Buying a Home – Page 6 – The Real Estate Beat

How to apply for a mortgage: Your 4-step guide.

Applying for a home loan is the first step to take when getting serious about buying a home. It will help you understand how much house you truly can afford. Get ready for the application process by gathering your financial info, finding a lender to work with, and getting pre-approved. You can always shop around and pick another lender once you get an accepted offer.

Mortgage loan pre-approval means approaching a lender with financial, credit, debt, and other information that will help them determine if you qualify for a loan at a certain amount.

There are four essential steps involved with mortgage pre-approval:

Gather financial information
Select a lender
Get a mortgage pre-approval
Close on your home

This article will give you an idea of how to get pre-approved for a mortgage and why pre-approval is important for buying a home.

How to get pre-approved for a home loan

Step 1: Gather financial information

Before heading to your lender’s office, gather and prepare the following financial information:

Credit Information: Your credit score and reports will determine the size of loan you may qualify for and the type of financing plan you will be offered. For example, a borrower with a credit score below 740 will usually have a higher interest rate associated with their loan. A borrower with a score below 580 will usually have to put down a higher down payment.

Pro Tip: Check your credit score for free with credit.com.

Debt Information: Gather and prepare any of your debt obligations. This includes student loans automobile loans, and credit card payments.

Pro Tip: If you have a significant amount of debt, the amount that you’re pre-approved will likely be smaller or rejected. Before applying for your pre-approved mortgage, try paying off your debts and minimize the number of new debts you take on.

Income Information: Gather and prepare income information from the previous two years. This includes tax returns, W-9s, pay stubs, and additional income information (from second jobs, overtime pay, social security payments, alimony or child support payments, etc.).

Asset Information: Asset information refers to assets you own other than your income. This involves gathering bank statements, property statements, investment information, and money received by family members.

Personal Information: Bring a personal ID such as a driver’s license or passport and your social security number to your lender’s office.

Employment Information: This includes your proof of employment and the length of time you’ve been with your employer.

Budget Information: Before going to see a lender, determine your budget for buying a new home.

Pro Tip: Your total housing payment budget should not exceed 35% of your pre-tax income. The ideal percentage is 25% of your pre-tax income.

Step 2: Select a lender to work with

There are two types of lenders you can work with (1) big lenders (aka the bank) or (2) small lenders (aka small, community banks or small mortgage lenders).

There are pros and cons associated with each type of lender:

Pros of big lenders:

Security: You can trust that big banks will protect your sensitive information as it’s a crucial part of their reputation.
Customer support: Banks usually offer 24/7 customer support.
Availability: Making an appointment for a loan will be easier with big banks as they have a larger number of loan officers available.

Cons of big lenders:

Rates: The rates of the big banks are usually higher than the rates at small loan offices.
Approval: Banks have a specific ‘credit model’ that they like to use as a guideline for approving people looking for loans. You may have a hard time being approved for a loan by a big bank if you don’t fit this ‘credit model.’

Pros of small lenders:

Rates: Small lenders tend to have better rates than the big banks. Furthermore, smaller lenders generally let their customers exit early. In other words, small lenders allow their customers to pay off their mortgage early and either sell their house or find a better mortgage.
Approval: Small lenders will generally approve loans to freelance workers, property investors, or someone who doesn’t fit the bank’s credit model.
Customer Service: Small lenders provide more personalized customer service and usually have faster response times.
Specialized Financing: Smaller lenders offer more specialized financing options than big banks. For example, if you’re looking for a small mortgage, most big banks won’t accept your application because it’s not worth their time. The smaller lender, however, will be happy to work with you.

Cons of small lenders:

Vulnerability: Due to their size, small lenders are more sensitive to market fluctuations.
Availability: Smaller lenders may not have as many available lenders as the big banks.

Should I get pre-approved by multiple financial institutions to compare rates?

Yes, because you can still shop rates before locking into a rate and accepting an offer. Research different lender’s reputation, search for their past clients, read their online reviews, and give them a call to get a ‘feel’ of whether or not you want to work with them.

Step 3: Get pre-approved

Most first-time home buyers are confused about the pre-approval process. So, to clear things up, we answer “how to get pre-approved for a mortgage” and the 6 other common questions first-time home buyers ask about mortgage pre-approval:

1. How do I get pre-approved for a mortgage?

Gather Documents: Gather the necessary documents (as listed in step 1).
Organize Documents: Create a Google Drive or Dropbox where you can organize all information in one, easily-accessible place.
Contact a Lender: Call, go online or visit a loan office/bank. The loan officer will review your documents and give you a preliminary estimate of how much house you can afford, your monthly mortgage payments, and mortgage interest rate.
Find out if you’ve been pre-approved: You will receive a pre-approval letter that secures your interest rates for the next 90-120 days (more on this below). On the other hand, your lender will notify you that you have not been pre-approved.

2. Why get pre-approved for a mortgage?

Benefits of Pre-Approvals:

Accurate: The best pre-approvals will give you an accurate idea of how much house you can afford. Furthermore, you’ll get an idea of your monthly mortgage payments and your short-term mortgage interest rates.
Protection: When you apply for a mortgage pre-approval, there is usually a 90-120 day protection against rising rates. In other words, pre-approvals lock-in interest rates and allow you to search for a home without worrying about interest rates increasing significantly.
Trustworthy: A pre-approved mortgage signals to sellers and real estate agents that you’re serious about buying a home.
Advantage: A pre-approved mortgage may be the deciding factor between you getting a home over another home buyer.
Free: Getting pre-approved for a mortgage is free, and there is no obligation to use the lender that pre-approved your mortgage.

3. What is the difference between pre-qualification and pre-approval?

Pre-qualification: During the pre-qualification stage of securing a mortgage, a lender will interview you to determine your income, expenses, and assets. The purpose of getting pre-qualified is to give you a rough estimate of how much house you can afford.
Pre-approval: During the pre-approval stage of securing a mortgage a lender will look through your income, expenses, and asset more thoroughly. A pre-approval is a more concrete estimate of how much house you can afford.

4. What if I don’t get pre-approved for a loan? Now what?

If you don’t get pre-approved for a loan, your lender can tell you why you were rejected. Lenders can also offer advice of how to get approved in the future.

For example, you may have to:

Build Credit: If bad credit was the reason you aren’t pre-approved, then pay off your credit cards and try not to miss your debt payments for the next 6-12 months.
Build Savings: Lenders usually want to see a significant amount of cash reserve in your savings account. Again, pay off your debts and try to save some money before applying for a pre-approval again.
Build Income: If your lender says that you don’t make enough income for a certain loan amount, either try applying for a smaller loan or, if you’re married, ask for a joint-loan with your spouse.
Build Employment History: Usually, lenders don’t like to see inconsistencies in employment history. Wait until you’ve been at the same job for two years before applying for a loan.

5. Does pre-approval guarantee a loan?
Pre-approval does not guarantee a loan. It is only a review of your qualifications for how much you might be able to borrow.

A buyer receives their pre-approval letters, searches for their dream home within their pre-approved amount, has their offer and financial structure accepted by the sellers, and then submits their proposal to the lender.

The lender then reviews the proposal, the buyer’s finance details, and the details of the property. If everything goes smoothly (i.e., the home doesn’t look like a money pit), the buyer will be approved for a mortgage.

However, the pre-approval letter alone does not guarantee a mortgage.

6. How long does it take to get pre-approved for a mortgage?

Depending on who you’re working with, you can get pre-approved for a mortgage in minutes. Sometimes all it takes is a phone call.

7. What impact (if any) will this have on my credit?

The short answer here is that it depends.

As mentioned above, lenders will look at your credit score and history to determine if you’ll be pre-approved. These are called credit report inquiries.

First-time home buyers usually don’t have to worry about inquires damaging their credit score. However, the more inquires your credit history shows, the more it can damage your credit score.

Inquires hurt your score because it shows lenders that you could be doing something with your credit that puts you at risk.

Step 4: Close on your home

Once you’re pre-approved for a mortgage, you can start the process of searching for a home, within your pre-approved amount.

The process of closing your home looks like this:
1. Application: The mortgage application involves submitting the documents outlined in step 1.

Time it takes: 1 day

2. Loan estimate: The lender analyzes your financial information and produces a loan estimate. A loan estimate describes the details of your loan including the terms and the predicted costs associated with your loan.

The loan estimate does not tell you if you have been approved for a loan. It simply estimates what your loan would look like if you’re approved and will help you determine if you would like to move forward with the mortgage application process.

Time it takes: The law states that you must receive your loan estimate 3 days after submitting your mortgage application.

3. Open a file: Your file is submitted to a loan processor who analyzes your financial documentation and property information. The loan processor places all this information into a loan package that is to be submitted to the underwriter.

Time it takes: 1 day

4. Loan underwriting: An underwriter analyzes your loan to determine the risk of approving your mortgage. Essentially, the underwriter is the key-decision maker and determines if you’re a good candidate for a loan based on the likelihood of you paying your mortgage each month.

The duties of an underwriter:

A. Assess: The underwriter assesses your risk by verifying that your credit, debt, income, and savings information is true. For example, they may call your employer to confirm that you do in fact work x amount of hours and are paid x amount of dollars.

B. Appraise: This is where the underwriter determines if your desired property’s price is comparable to the prices of similar properties. The purpose of the appraisal is to determine if the money you would like to borrow matches the value of the home you would like to purchase. If the appraisal is less than the loan amount, the underwriter will usually disapprove the mortgage or suggest another loan amount.

C. Approve or reject: The underwriter considers all this information and then approves or rejects your loan application.

Time it takes: 1-7 days

Pro Tip: The underwriting process generally takes longer and requires more documentation if you’re self-employed.

5. Mortgage Commitment: If the underwriter approves your loan, you are officially locked-into an interest rate.

Time it takes: 2-4 days

6. Closing: This is the step in the home-buying process where you sign all the necessary documents to own the home officially.

I read this article at: Open Listings

Got Real Estate Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.

We strive to be more than just Realtors – we are also your home resource. If you have any real estate questions, concerns, need a referral or some guidance – we are here for you. Contact us at your convenience – we are but a call, text or click away!

The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the utmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.

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Thanks for reading – Sabrina

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina DRE# 01413526 / Susan DRE #01238225 / Team DRE# 70000218/ Office DRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Third party information not verified.

How Long Does It Take to Improve Your Credit Score Enough to Buy a Home?

A new year means new goals. If home ownership is one of them – it’s time to make sure your credit is in check.

How long does it take to improve your credit score? If you’re hoping to buy a home, having a good credit score is key, since it helps you qualify for a mortgage. So if your credit score is low, knowing how long it takes to raise it to home-buying range can help you plan.

While raising a credit score can’t happen overnight, it is possible to raise your credit score within one to two months. However, it could take longer, depending on what’s dragging down your score—and how you handle it. Here’s what you need to know.

How long does it take to raise a credit score?

First off, what’s considered a good score versus a poor one? Here are some general parameters:

Perfect credit score: 850
Excellent score: 760-849
Good credit score: 700 to 759
Fair score: 650 to 699
Low score: 650 and below

While it varies by area and type of loan, generally lenders will look for a score of 660 or higher to grant a mortgage (here’s more on the minimum credit score you need for a home loan).

If you’re looking to boost your credit score fast, here are some actions you can take.

Correct errors on your credit report

Correcting errors on your credit report is a relatively quick way to improve your credit score. If it’s a simple identity error—like a credit card that’s not yours showing up—you can get that corrected within one to two months.

If it’s an error on one of your accounts, though, it could take longer, because you need to involve your creditor as well as the credit bureau. The entire process typically takes 30 to 90 days. If there’s a lot of back-and-forth between you, the credit bureau, and your creditor, it could take longer.

The first step to correcting errors is to get a copy of your credit reports from TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian (the three major credit bureaus), which you can do at no cost once a year at annualcreditreport.com. Next, review them for errors. If it’s an error on one of your accounts, you must refute that error with the bureau by providing documentation arguing otherwise. For example, if you paid a credit card on time and the card issuer is reporting a late payment, find a bank statement showing that you paid on time.

Credit bureaus typically have 30 days to investigate the error. If they agree that it’s an error, they will remove the item. The credit bureau may also ask for additional information or ask you to discuss the information with the creditor involved. If that’s the case, stay on top of communications with your creditor so you can get things resolved as quickly as possible.

Deal with delinquent accounts

Bringing delinquent accounts current and settling accounts that are in collections can also boost your score fairly quickly. Once the creditor or collection agency reports your account update, you should see a positive bump in your score. Keep in mind, though, that your late payment history will remain on your credit report for seven years.

If you have bad accounts that have been on your report for six years or more, you may not want to worry about settling them or bringing them up to date. This can re-age the account, and if you fall behind again, it will stay on your credit report for another seven years.

“Make sure you don’t re-age these accounts, because they’re going to drop off soon,” says Nathan Danus, CDMP and Director of Housing and Community Development at DebtHelper in West Palm Beach, FL. Negative information typically “falls off” your credit report after seven years, so if you’re close, it’s best to just wait it out.

Lower your credit utilization

Credit utilization refers to how much you owe compared with the amount of credit you have available. For example, if you have a $10,000 credit limit across all your credit cards and you have balances totaling $9,000, you’ve utilized 90% of your credit. This drags down your credit score.

“What these consumers often need to do is pay down the balances on their existing credit accounts, which can be a challenge if they’ve allowed the balances to creep up over time,” says Martin H. Lynch, compliance manager and director of education at Cambridge Credit Counseling of Agawam, MA. “The ratio of what’s owed to the amount of credit available represents 30% of the consumer’s score, so rapid improvement is possible if there’s a large amount of money available to pay down balances.”

Linda L. Jacob, a financial counselor at Consumer Credit of Des Moines, IA, recommends paying down balances to below one-third of your credit line. Any payments you make will be reflected on your credit report as soon as your creditors report your payment to the credit bureaus. Credit scores are updated on an ongoing basis, and creditors typically report once per month, so if you make a payment that lowers your credit utilization, that should be reflected on your credit score within two months.

If you’re regularly using your credit card but you want to keep your utilization low so you can apply for a mortgage, you may want to pay down your credit-card balance on a weekly or biweekly basis. This ensures that your balance is as low as possible whenever your creditor reports your payment history to the credit bureaus.

You can also decrease your card utilization by getting more credit, but this approach can backfire. Consumers sometimes assume that by getting more credit, their credit score will improve. If you have a $3,000 balance on a card with a $4,000 credit limit and you’re approved for a new credit card with a $1,000 limit, you now have $5,000 in total credit lines. Instead of using 75% of your available credit, you’re now using 60%. That’s better, right?

Not necessarily. “Just applying for credit lowers your credit score, and that effect lasts for months,” warns Mike Sullivan, personal finance consultant at Take Charge America in Phoenix, AZ. “For the first few months after you apply for credit, your credit score may actually go down.”

You can try getting around this by asking a credit limit increase on a card you already have. Be sure to ask whether they do a “soft” credit pull rather than a “hard” credit pull, though, since hard credit inquiries are the ones that impact your credit. A creditor may be willing to give you a credit line increase with a “soft” pull, which will not hurt your credit score.

Soft inquiries are for background purposes only. For example, a credit card company may do a soft pull to see if you’re eligible for certain credit card offers, or an employer may do a soft pull before offering you a job. Soft pulls can be done without your permission and do not impact your credit score. Hard pulls require your permission, and are done when lenders or credit card companies are assessing whether to grant you a loan or line of credit.

How to raise your credit score for the long haul

Once you’ve corrected errors, settled your delinquent accounts, and brought your credit utilization under control, the only other things that will improve your score are time and developing good payment habits. For example, if you tend to forget to make payments, you can set up automatic payments so you don’t forget.

And here’s some good news for people with bad credit: Generally, people with the lowest scores will see the biggest gains the fastest.

“It’s a lot like dieting,” says Sullivan.

For instance, if your score is 550, “you could probably get it up 30 points in a matter of a couple months, if you’re really dedicated and really careful,” he explains.

On the other hand: “If your credit score is already a 750 and you’re trying to get it to 780, that can take double or more the time.”

Still, it’s worth doing whatever you can to get the best interest rate possible.

For more smart financial news and advice, head over to MarketWatch.

Melinda Sineriz is a writer living in Bakersfield, CA. She writes about personal finance and real estate for several websites and businesses.

I read this article at: Realtor.com

Got Real Estate Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.

The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the upmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina
A Family of Realtors
Effective. Efficient. Responsive.
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Thanks for reading – Sabrina

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina DRE# 01413526 / Susan DRE #01238225 / Team DRE# 70000218/ Office DRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Third party information not verified.

Family Room | Craftsmans Kitchen | For Sale in Newark

Whats the most important factor is Real Estate? Location Location Location. Del Monte is in a fantastic, well established & maintained neighborhood. This home has AC, forced air heat, LED lighting, dual pane windows & sliders, hardwood, vinyl, tile, carpet & laminate flooring. Spacious living/dining combo with fireplace & vaulted ceiling. Custom Craftsman Kitchen with electric glass cooktop/dual oven range, dishwasher, microwave & custom refrigerator – all overlooking the spacious back yard. Family Room with informal dinning. Play Fort, Greenhouse & Drought Tolerant plants makes landscaping a breeze. ALL APPLIANCES INCLUDE. 2 Car Garage w Laundry, Freezer, drink fridge. All this and 4 Bed with 2 Baths including Master Suite and private office. Close to schools, parks, shopping, 880, the Bridge, Facebook & Tesla. FULL Disclosure package available – CLEAN REPORTS! Excellent condition. Worth a look – 8213 Del Monte Ave in Newark is a well maintained home, with classic features in excellent condtion. We have a full disclosure package with home, pest and roof inspections available upon request. Contact The Caton Team with any questions.

See more photos at: Facebook Photo Album of Del Monte Ave

Call | Text 650.799.4333 | Email Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Upon entry you are greeted with tall vaulted ceilings and a burst of cheerful color in the large living anddining area; appointed with dual pane windows, fireplace, hardwood floors and tile. The double doors on your left lead you to the 4th bedroom configured as a home office. Pass through to the family room and find an informal eating area off the Craftmans style kichen with custom oak cabinetry and beautiful green tile. The dual oven, glass top electric range, built in regrgerator, dishwasher and microwave are all at your finger tips while overlooking your back yard. Large sliding glass doors connect the home with the garden in the family room with space for entertainment area. Three bedrooms and hall bath featuring a shower over tub. The master suite is tucked at the back of the home with a on private entry into the garden. Ample closet space in each room, not to mention the oversized two car garage with washer, dryer, freezer and mini fridge included. The garden is landscaped with drought tolerant plants such as succulents and shrubs. Two long time lemon trees ready for your kitchen adventures. The greenhouse, custom fort and tool sheds come with the home. Del Monte Avenue is in lovely Newark and ready to make your own. Contact The Caton Team for a private viewing and more information. Call | Text 650.799.4333 | Email Info@TheCatonTeam.com

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MLS ML81730678

Available by Appointment

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Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties Sabrina DRE# 01413526 / Susan DRE #01238225 / Team DRE# 70000218/ Office DRE #01499008

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Forget Aspen! 10 Great U.S. Ski Towns Where Folks Can Actually Afford to Buy a Home

Winter, as you’ve surely heard, is coming—hard and fast. So why not ride it out in your very own home in the mountains, in a sweet place where the slopes are groomed, the air is clean, and après-ski bars are buzzing? While you’re at it, maybe chill for the summer too! Truth be told, you don’t have to be a second-generation reality TV star, tech titan, or trust-fund kid to live large in a great American ski town. And no, we’re not schussing you. You just need to know where to set your sights.

Hint: It’s not on Aspen, Jackson, Park City, or any of the other snowy playgrounds of the 1%, where median home prices rival or even exceed the most expensive neighborhoods of San Fransisco or New York.

But there are plenty of lower-key, way more inexpensive options around. In fact, just about half of America’s ski towns, as defined by realtor.com®, have a median home price under $300,000. So our data team set out to find the most affordable of the bunch, towns where you can keep the dream of owning a home near the slopes alive, and maybe even have some cash left over for a new snowmobile. Or heck, an SUV!

While you’d be forgoing some of the glam scenes, upper-end nightspots, and world-class powder of the best-known resort towns, these lower-priced mountain meccas are still undisputed winter and summer wonderlands. Some are old mining towns, or small remote cities that built resorts as a means to replace fading industries. They have fewer tourists, and miles of untrammeled nature.

To create our rankings, we started with a list of around 450 ski resorts, as compiled by onthesnow.com, a website that creates snow reports for the ski industry. We then looked at median list prices in the nearest towns or cities to those resorts to figure out which had the least expensive real estate. Only places with at least 50 homes for sale in October were included, and for geographic diversity, we included just one place per state.

So pull on that discount Uniqlo parka, grab a hot toddy or three, and let’s check out the best bargain ski towns in America.

Read More: Realtor.com – Ski Towns

Got Real Estate Questions? The Caton Team is here to help.

The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the upmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina
A Family of Realtors
Effective. Efficient. Responsive.
What can we do for you?

The Caton Team Testimonials

The Caton Team Blog – The Real Estate Beat

The Caton Team Website

The Caton Team Advantage

How to Buy While Selling Real Estate

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: Mobile Real Estate by The Caton Team

Visit us at: Our Blog * TheCatonTeam.com * Facebook * Instagram * HomeSnap* Pintrest * LinkedIN Sabrina * LinkedIN Susan

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina DRE# 01413526 / Susan DRE #01238225 / Team DRE# 70000218/ Office DRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Third party information not verified

Resources for Buyers Struggling With Down Payments

First-time buyer surveys consistently show the top hurdle to homeownership is saving up for the down payment. But potential home shoppers may be misunderstanding the amount of money they really need to buy a home.

“Paying 20 percent down is, quite frankly, a myth,” Karen Hoskins, vice president at NeighborWorks, told HouseLogic. “Most buyers pay only 5 percent to 10 percent down—some even pay zero.”

Several assistance programs exist to help buyers with down payment concerns break into homeownership. For example, 69 percent of about 2,500 homebuying programs tracked by Down Payment Resource offer down payment assistance. The average amount of assistance from these programs tops $11,000.

HouseLogic offers several places where buyers can search for down payment assistance, including through national government programs. The Federal Housing Administration offers loans to first-time buyers with down payments as low as 3.5 percent. Programs like the USDA Rural Development Loans and VA Home Loans offer eligible buyers zero down payment loans.

Mortgage financing giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac offer eligible buyers loans where they can put down as little as 3 percent of the purchase price. When buyers put down less than 20 percent, they pay private mortgage insurance each month to protect the lender’s interest.

Many state and local homebuying programs offer assistance programs too. There are many different forms of assistance, such as forgivable loans and grants (gifts for some or all of the down payment and closing costs) to soft mortgages (down payment assistance loans that are deferred for some period of time based on the program’s requirements).

To find a program, HouseLogic recommends NeighborWorks, which provides housing counselors to discuss mortgage options for free, and the Down Payment Resource, where buyers can check their eligibility for assistance programs. Mortgage brokers should also be able to supply buyers with information about programs in their area and help determine eligibility.

Read the full scope of your buyers’ options and share the available resources for down payments—or no down payments—on HouseLogic.

Source:

“Known Ways You Can Buy a House With No Down Payment,” HouseLogic.com (December 2018)

I read this article at: Realtor.com

Got Questions – The Caton Team is here to help.

The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the upmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina
A Family of Realtors
Effective. Efficient. Responsive.
What can we do for you?

The Caton Team Testimonials

The Caton Team Blog – The Real Estate Beat

The Caton Team Website

The Caton Team Advantage

How to Buy While Selling Real Estate

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Thanks for reading – Sabrina

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina DRE# 01413526 / Susan DRE #01238225 / Team DRE# 70000218/ Office DRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Third party information not verified.

House hunting for first-time homebuyers: is there a right way?

A lot of buyers, especially first-timers, worry about whether or not they’re going about their home search the right way.

On the one hand, buyers fret that if they find their “dream home” too early, they might be missing out on something better. But, on the other, if the process takes a while, they worry that they’ll never find a home that works for them. The FOMO is real.

Keep reading to find out if you’re on track with your home search and what you should do if you find that you need to go back to the drawing board.

How many homes should you see?

Honestly, that depends. While we understand the impulse to try and rely on hard-and-fast statistics, homebuying is a truly personal experience rather than a science.

Trust your intuition. You know your needs, likes, and dislikes better than anyone else. You’ll know when you’ve landed on the property that makes the most sense for you to call home.

That said, though, there are a few things you can do to help speed your search along:

If you’ve been looking for a while and haven’t really found anything that meets your needs, it might be time to redefine search criteria. Sit down and take some time to think about which features you really need to have in your new home versus which are more nice-to-have, wishlist items.

Narrowing your search

Sometimes, narrowing search criteria can get tricky. If you’re unsure of where to start, try using the following as a starting point.

Neighborhoods

Focusing in on a particular area is one of the easiest ways to refine your search. You can start by doing research into different neighborhoods by you. Think about what you commute to work will look like, if the area has amenities that you enjoy, the quality of the school district, and home values.

With that in mind, though, you getting too hung up on a particular zip code can also limit your criteria. The key is keep an ideal location in mind while still staying open to possibility.

Bedrooms & bathrooms

When searching for a house, you should have a firm idea of how many bedrooms and bathrooms you’re after. Whether you’re just looking to accommodate yourself and the occasional guest, are thinking about starting a family in the near future, or want the option to convert a spare bedroom into an office, this information will surely help narrow your search.

We advise against compromising on this feature because, while it is possible to put an addition on later, doing so takes a substantial amount of time and effort. More often than not, homeowners find that they would rather put their home on the market than go through the hassle of trying to renovate it to fit their changing needs.

Sale price

This is the big one. Once you have the above two details settled, it’s time to narrow your search results further to only those homes that you can truly afford. If you’ve already applied for a pre-approval, that number can be a good place to start. However, remember that a pre-approval shows the maximum amount that you can ask for in a loan. You may not want to borrow up to that amount once you factor in the rest of your monthly expenses.

To find a more comfortable sale price, we recommend using a mortgage calculator to get a sense of what your monthly payment could look like at various loan amounts and interest rates. Then, once you’ve landed on a number that works for you, try plugging that into your monthly budget to get a sense of how the payment will feel in addition to your other costs.

Now what?

The good news is that once you’ve narrowed your search down, your pool of available properties will likely be much smaller than it was before – and much more targeted to meet your needs. From here, your search will be about zeroing in on your perfect match on the basis of which property was the best fit for your personal tates.

You’ll know when a property feels like it could become home versus when you’d be trying to make the best of an imperfect situation. Keep hunting until you find the former.

This article originally appeared on OpenListings.

Got Questions – The Caton Team is here to help.

The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the upmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina
A Family of Realtors
Effective. Efficient. Responsive.
What can we do for you?

The Caton Team Testimonials

The Caton Team Blog – The Real Estate Beat

The Caton Team Website

The Caton Team Advantage

How to Buy While Selling Real Estate

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: Mobile Real Estate by The Caton Team

Visit us at: Our Blog * TheCatonTeam.com * Facebook * Instagram * HomeSnap* Pintrest * LinkedIN Sabrina * LinkedIN Susan

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina DRE# 01413526 / Susan DRE #01238225 / Team DRE# 70000218/ Office DRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Third party information not verified.

Study: Delayed Homeownership to Hamper Millennials’ Retirement

Financial experts are growing concerned by how millennials’ lack of homeownership will impact them financially when they retire.

“Homeownership is one of the touchstones of being prepared for retirement,” Tamera Sims, research scientist at the Stanford Center on Longevity, told CNBC. “Buying a home at age 50 or 60 isn’t going to do you much good in funding a 30-year retirement.”
But young adults are “not able to hit the [housing] market at the same age as their parents,” Sims says. Researchers found homeownership is falling the most among people under the age of 30 compared to previous generations.
The homeownership rate among early millennials (those born between 1980 and 1984) at age 30 is 35.8 percent, according to the Stanford Center on Longevity. The rate of nonowners, however, is 64.2 percent. For comparison, the rate of homeownership among baby boomers at age 30 was 48.3 percent, and nonowners were 51.7 percent.
Young adults are delaying marriage and having children and loaded with student debt, all factors for their slow start at homeownership compared to previous generations. In 1960, the average age for men and women to get married was in their early 20s. The median age nowadays has slid closer to 30.
Young adults when they graduate face an average of about $30,000 in student debt, up from an inflation-adjusted $16,000 in the early 1990s. Young adults who are still repaying their student loans at age 30 are 32 percentage points less likely to own a home than those who never borrowed for their education, according to research from the Stanford Center on Longevity.
A study in 2013 from the Urban Institute found that if a person delays buying a home to age 40 instead of age 30, that alone could result in a $42,000 loss in home equity by the time that person reaches age 60.

I read this article at: magazine.realtor

Got Questions – The Caton Team is here to help.

The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco | Peninsula | Bay Area | Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the upmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina
A Family of Realtors
Effective. Efficient. Responsive.
What can we do for you?

The Caton Team Testimonials

The Caton Team Blog – The Real Estate Beat

The Caton Team Website

The Caton Team Advantage

How to Buy While Selling Real Estate

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: Mobile Real Estate by The Caton Team

Visit us at: Our Blog * TheCatonTeam.com * Facebook * Instagram * HomeSnap* Pintrest * LinkedIN Sabrina * LinkedIN Susan

Thanks for reading – Sabrina

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina DRE# 01413526 / Susan DRE #01238225 / Team DRE# 70000218/ Office DRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Third party information not verified.

How Important Is The Lender in a Real Estate Purchase?

More important than you think….

Hi! Sabrina Caton here, Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices in Redwood City. I wanted to write my own article today – to shed some light about the importance of the Lender you are working with when purchasing Real Estate in the Bay Area.

If you are a Buyer in the Silicon Valley – then you already know how competitive this market is. If a Buyer wants to be the winning bidder on a home – they pretty much have to write their best offer – Non Contingent. Meaning they’re locked into that contract no matter what. Interest rates rise and they can’t afford their loan? Doesn’t matter if their offer is Non-Contingent. House doesn’t appraise for their offer price? The Buyer better pony up the money or risk possibly losing their good faith deposit – because the offer was Non-Contingent.

As scary as Non-Contingent sounds – it is doable – as long as a Buyer has their ducks in a row – and what I mean by ducks is the Buyer is working with a terrific Realtor and a fantastic Lender, who has already run their credit, taken their application and had the Underwriter review it all before drafting the Pre-Approval Letter.

Often times, at this stage in the process – a Buyer is looking for the best “deal”. Meaning – they will follow the path that gets them the “most money” – or so it is perceived. People may shop a Lender based on their closing costs, the interest rate quoted or because they know them. All fine and well – but we need more! The worst is when a buyer uses any Online Lending Score – that is a horror story for another blog post. (Just take my advice and use a local Lender when buying in the Bay Area.)

When a Buyer is writing a Non-Contingent offer – they are heavily relying on what their Lender has told them. What some Buyers overlook is the followthrough. Did the Lender have the Underwriter (The Bank God as I call them) review the application to ensure they fit into the box? Did the Lender verify employment? Does the Lender know one income earner is on leave? Will their income still be used to qualify for the loan? What happens if their income is not used? What happens in a Buyer takes on new debt? What is a Buyer pays down debt? So many issues can up at any time, it is best to start off with their best foot forward.

The last thing a Buyer needs once they get an offer accepted is surprises in their loan. Like – they don’t have a loan! Large purchases that change their debt to income ratio can turn a Buyer from Pre-Approved to Not Approved. To make things worse – what if a Buyer found this out AFTER their Non-Contingent offer is ACCEPTED?! Well – the Buyer could risk losing their Good Faith Deposit and around here that’s 3% of the purchase price and our purchase prices are at least $1 – $1.5 million dollars. So we’re taking $50,000 here!

Unless a Buyer is buying a home in cash – the home loan is the most critical part of the transaction. Any Sellers Realtor worth their salt will call each Lender on each offer they receive – to ensure the strength and validity of the loan. Because without the loan – there is no sale and NO SELLER is going to risk the most important sale of their lives on “what if’s.”

I could go on and on about the horrors of bad lending. So instead let me leave you with this. When you are starting the journey towards homeownership – the true first step is to apply for a home loan and determine your budget. That entails sitting down and making your own personal home budget. Itemizing what you spend your money on and how much you have left towards the mortgage. Once you’ve applied for a home loan, find a Reatlor your can talk to and trust and sit down and do just that – talk. Each client is a unique situation and therefore requires a different plan. The Caton Team is comprised of myself Sabrina and my partner/mother in law – Susan. Together we have 35 years combined, local real estate experience. Chances are we’ve worked through similar situations as you are in now. Our time is free, our advice is free – put us to work for you.

If you’ve got Real Estate questions – we’ve got answers. Contact the Caton Team when you are considering a purchase or sale of Real Estate.

I wrote this…

Got Questions – The Caton Team is here to help.

The Caton Team strives to be more than just Realtors – we are also your home resource. If you have any real estate questions, concerns, need a referral or some guidance – we are here. Contact us at your convenience – we are but a call, text or click away!

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina
A Family of Realtors
Effective. Efficient. Responsive.
What can we do for you?

The Caton Team Testimonials

The Caton Team Blog – The Real Estate Beat

The Caton Team Website

The Caton Team Advantage

How to Buy While Selling Real Estate

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: Mobile Real Estate by The Caton Team

Visit us at: Our Blog * TheCatonTeam.com * Facebook *Yelp Us * My Yelp * Instagram * HomeSnap* Pintrest * LinkedIN Sabrina * LinkedIN Susan

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina DRE# 01413526 / Susan DRE #01238225 / Team DRE# 70000218/ Office DRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Third party information not verified.

How to Sell and Buy Real Estate in Today’s Market

Are you a Move Up Buyer in Silicon Valley? Then you know how hard it is to take that goal and realize it. It is much harder to sell and buy due to the dynamic of the market.

If you’re a Buyer in the Silicon Valley – then you are well aware of how competitive it is to get a house in this market. A Buyer may have started off with the want list and then quickly condensed it.

What makes move up buying a challenge?

The Bay Area has limited space to build. Land is the gold of Real Estate, without land you cannot build more homes. So if you want to own a home around here – get ready for the bidding wars.

But if you’re a Buyer with a home to Sell first – then you’re really up for a challenge. But! We are here to help you and come up with a plan for success.

Seller EXPECTATIONS

If you’re a Seller these days – you have some expectations and when the market is in your favor. It’s great.
With multiple Buyers for each home – a Buyer must put their best foot forward to succeed and this goes for any market. Here are some suggestions:

OFFER OVER LIST PRICE – sometimes even more than the Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) warrants. This can be frightening and can setup a Buyer for some surprises*.
The Caton Team always prepares a CMA and gauges market activity to help a Buyer determine their right price.
WAIVE CONTINGENCIES – These days a Buyer should not ask for repairs but account for it. It’s also hard to request time to sell their current home first. If a Buyer wants to be a contender – it can feel like they must come in Non-Contingent and ready to close. Let me re-phrase that. A Buyer should write THIER best offer and if that includes a contingency – the Buyer must do what is best for them. Just know – if there are too many contingencies – generally that offer goes to the bottom of the stack because in a sellers market, the Seller often has plenty of offers to choose from and does NOT have to accept a Contingent Offer. (Note, in cooler markets Buyers have more leverage and will have the opportunity for Sellers to accept contingencies.)
PROOF OF FUNDS – A Buyer MUST HAVE ALL their down payment, closing costs and reserve monies ready from DAY 1! Not only for their bank loan approval – Buyers need proof of funds just to write a contending offer! To be frank, sometimes a great offer is beat out by an offer with “better” proof of funds – IE – money in the bank.
Each Seller and their Realtor will REQUIRE Proof of Funds to be submitted WITH the Offer. Meaning your Realtor needs recent copies of all your bank statements to be provided in your Offer Package to show money for the downpayment, closing costs and reserves. You would too if you were in the Seller seat. Our job as Realtors is to protect OUR Clients best interests. Meaning, while reviewing offers, not only does The Caton Team call each lender to verify loan strength – we also want to see Proof of Funds totaling at minimum the monies for said deal AND reserve funds which are healthy and liquid to ensure – if things go awry – there are funds to close on time. In other words, the strongest reserves has an impact on what is considered the “Best” offer. It is not always price that equates as “Best”. (Curious why? – Ask us anytime – that topic is for another blog post.)
An example of a Buyer surprise is when the appraised value is lower than the offer price. The Buyer may want to pay the difference between the appraised value and offer price and that too is a conversation on what’s best for the client. There is no “cold feet” in Real Estate, quitting on a Non-Contingent Offer means the Buyer could forge all or a portion of their good faith deposit – which is 3% of the total purchase price. Note – each case is different and this is just an example. Bottom line – selling Real Estate is serious business and being prepared is the first step.

There are several more items that make the Perfect Offer Package – so if you’re curious – contact The Caton Team we’re happy to chat and come up with a plan that works for you.

Ok, so now you have an idea of what it takes to buy a home around here. Now what do you do if you have a home to sell first? Bear with me on this – it is the hottest topic in Real Estate today.

HOW TO SELL THEN BUY

If you’re lucky enough to already be a Silicon Valley homeowner – congratulations! You’re ahead of the game. Right? Unless you need more space and want to move up. The Caton Team has met many clients who opted to add onto their existing homes. Great! Unless that is not an option. Then we are back to square one – How does a Buyer sell then buy in this market?

As I stated above in Seller Expectations, the “requirements” for contention can feel like a tall order. If your down payment funds are tied up in the equity of your home – you have several options but only a few are viable.

DREAM OPTION

Rich Aunt Sally gifts you the money you need for the purchase of the home. Thank you Aunt Sally. But what if we don’t have rich relatives?

SELL FIRST OPTION

This is the cut and dry option. Sell the home. Close Escrow. Move out and into a short term rental or with relatives. Bank the proceeds of the sale – aka: the downpayment and enjoy the Home Buying Experience at your own pace knowing you can A) Prove your Funds are liquid and B) write an offer Non Contingent on selling your home first. In a seller’s market an offer contingent on selling doesn’t always fly and if it does – you’ve got to act fast and sell your home as you will have a time frame.

Oh – Did I mention this option is also terrifying? A Seller feels as if they are loosing their only piece of California – the “what if we don’t get the next one” can be frightening. That’s why this option is often chosen last. Next up…

SELL FIRST WITH RENT-BACK OPTION

Similar to the first scenario – except instead of moving out at Close of Escrow – the Seller is granted Rent Back to live in the home for an agreed timeframe and cost, then move out – whether or not the Seller has acquired their next purchase. The advantage to this is the Closing – the Seller has the proceeds in the bank and can write a non-contingent offer on their next home. The down side – it is a short term solution – if the Seller doesn’t find their next home within the time frame – they will have to move out when the tenancy is over no matter what.

OBTAIN AN OFFER TO PURCHASE

This option is often the first step – the proverbial toe in the water. We, as your Realtors will try to find a Buyer willing to do the following:

Offer to Purchase the home with an Extended Close of Escrow, giving the Seller time to acquire their next property then quickly close on one then the other – a Domino closing effect. The downside, their proceeds are not in the bank; therefore the Proof of Funds will be short AND even if the Seller writes a Non-Contingent Offer – we as Realtors know – it isn’t over until it’s over. In other words, when comparing offers – the one with less strings attached wins. Even Non-Contingent Offers in this scenario are not as strong as Buyers ready, willing and able to close on time. IE: Don’t have to close one house before they can close on the other. Confusing right?

That’s why inevitably, if a Client truly needs more space and cannot add on – they often are forced to sell first, rent then buy because this market is too competitive to request contingencies from the seller. – Please don’t shoot the messenger –

THE LONG ROAD

Now here’s my idea – but it takes a few years and you truly need to ask your CPA. The idea is – the Seller moves out into. (Where? That is not part of my scenario.) The Seller then converts their personal residence into a rental – renting it out for a minimum of 2 years. (I cannot give tax advice, so please verify with your CPA). After those two years, the Seller sells their home as a 1031 exchange, then buys their next home – as another investment. The caveat – the Seller cannot move into their new home until it’s been rented for at least 2 years. Again run this by your CPA as tax laws change and I am not a CPA. Anyway, this is the long term approach. The good news, especially if you’re buying in the same community, even if prices rise – hopefully so will the value of your current investment. Anyway, can you tell I have several clients in the same boat? This blog post was really just me organizing my thoughts then I figured – why don’t I just share this – if I can help someone make a better decision for their future – then I did my job today.

THINGS TO CONSIDER

Interest Rates will rise and fall and impact a buyers monthly outlay. This affects prices. Rates rise, this can diminish a Buyer’s buying power. As the interest rates rise the amount of the loan reduces. To remedy this – a Buyer will need to bring in more monies towards the downpayment. Easy, if we have Aunt Sally on speed dial. If rates fall we praise the Real Estate gods for their moment of affordability.

The Caton Team cannot forecast the future but we have endured all sorts of markets in our 25+ years. We always worry about our Buyers waiting themselves out of the market and in an inclining market – that can happen faster than you think. Ask us anytime – we’re in the trenches, we know what homes are selling for before the internet gets wind. It’s wild out there but we’ve got you covered. Susan and I have over 40+ years combined, local real estate experience. We represent our clients with integrity and grace. Our offer packages stand out and often times just the edge a Buyer needs in this market. Our Seller Package is successful, our negotiating is skilled, kind and focused. We pride ourselves in being effective, efficient and responsive.

Real Estate is multi faceted and this blog is just the tip of the iceberg. Each client has a unique set of needs. We value the sit down time to get to know what you need whether buying or selling a home in the Bay Area.

What Can The Caton Team Do For You?

Thank you for reading and forgiving my typos, Sabrina – I wrote this…

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We strive to be more than just Realtors – we are also your home resource. If you have any real estate questions, concerns, need a referral, or some guidance – we are here for you. Contact us at your convenience – we are but a call, text or click away!

A mother and daughter-in-law team with over 35 years of combined, local Real Estate experience and knowledge – wouldn’t you like The Caton Team to represent you? Let us know how we can be of service. Contact us any time.

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina
A Family of Realtors
Effective. Efficient. Responsive.
What can we do for you?

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties, Redwood City Ca.

DRE # | Sabrina 01413526 | Susan 01238225 | Team 70000218 | Office 01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Third-party information not verified.

Working with The Caton Team…

Or what I like to call it – The Caton Team Advantage…

I’m on hold at the moment. Waiting to hear how many offers are coming in on my clients dream home. Wondering if we offered enough. Oh the joys of Real Estate in the Silicon Valley.

This isn’t the first time I’ve waited on hold, nor the last. Though this is the first time I’ve waited long enough to start a blog post – so that tells you something. Tenacity. I’m not hanging up until I know.

You see, once I find out where we stand, I can call my clients and update our strategy. Because it isn’t over until it’s over – and if we’re not the best offer – well gosh darn it – we will be. Or try to be.

– I know Yoda – there is no try. But I tell you – it doesn’t hurt to try.

When The Caton Team has the trust and confidence of our clients – we can do anything…

… As soon as the lovely agent concierge gives me the latest news.

I am so proud to say – that in 2017 – sellers left money on the table to work with The Caton Team buying clients. That says something. Furthermore, there were no side deals, no commission re-negotiations, nothing but a good clean offer and our Caton Team offer package. Because The Caton Team knows what it takes – good old fashioned hard work. Because when I say – sellers left money on the table – I mean – our buyers didn’t offer the most money for property in Silicon Valley – BUT – we had the best offer package and the hustle to ensure – we will close escrow. That’s the name of the game. You can offer all the money in the world and it doesn’t mean a thing if it doesn’t close escrow.

As my mother always told me. Talk is cheap. It’s all about the action. Her words ring true today.

I’m still on hold…

I’ve been a Realtor for a lucky 15 years now, Susan for 20. However in the past decade give or take, Real Estate has changed dramatically. In fact, the past 5 years have been a revolution if you’ve been in the thick of it. I was able to see how the internet – wait – mobile devices – single handedly changed everything. It’s amazing.

By the looks of commercials, just a push of a button will summon someone to open the door and show a home. That’s perfect – that’s grand! I wish I could offer such amazing services, thing is – I’m probably across town showing homes and meeting inspectors for the pre-sale checklist – that I can’t drop everything to – well – literally just open a door. So I wonder…

Do people still need Realtors? Or is there an App for that?

In my humble opinion, the answer is YES, professional Realtors are still needed, relevant and imperative – especially in the Silicon Valley Real Estate Market. As long as we are human, making one of the largest financial decisions in our lives, and for as many algorithms and apps with data we have – there are some things you cannot replicate. Experience, knowledge and the ability to navigate a contract in a market that moves so damn fast.

Not every Realtor is the same mind you. I’m speaking on behalf of myself, Susan and a bountiful handful of awesome Realtors who get it. We offer so much more than just opening a door. There’s an app for that – what The Caton Team brings to the table is knowledge, experience, negotiations skills that turn our buyers into homeowners.

The Silicon Valley Real Estate Market is on par with New York now as one of the hottest Real Estate Markets in America and it also happens to be in our back yard.

Though this post was dedicated to our Buying clients in this hot market – Selling a home is just as challenging. It’s not just putting a sign in the yard or a link on the net. Alas – that’s a blog for another day. Because….

…I’m off hold – so it’s back to work!

– Thanks for reading,

Sabrina

The Caton Team has 35 years of combined, local Silicon Valley Real Estate experience. Both of us born and raised in San Carlos – The City of Good Living. We know what it takes to become a homeowner in the Bay Area, we know what it takes to prepare your home for a successful sale in Silicon Valley. If you’re interested in working with The Caton Team – please reach out at your convenience. Desk (forwards to cell): 650-568-5522 | Email: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Got Questions – The Caton Team is here to help.

The Caton Team believes, in order to be successful in the San Fransisco Silicon Valley Real Estate Market we have to think and act differently. We do this by positioning our clients in the strongest light, representing them with the upmost integrity, while strategically maneuvering through negotiations and contracts. Together we make dreams come true.

Email Sabrina & Susan at: Info@TheCatonTeam.com

Call us at: 650-568-5522 Office: 650-365-9200

The Caton Team – Susan & Sabrina
A Family of Realtors
Effective. Efficient. Responsive.
What can we do for you?

The Caton Team Testimonials

The Caton Team Blog – The Real Estate Beat

The Caton Team Website

The Caton Team Advantage

How to Buy While Selling Real Estate

Want Real Estate Info on the Go? Download our FREE Real Estate App: Mobile Real Estate by The Caton Team

Visit us at: Our Blog * TheCatonTeam.com * Facebook *Yelp Us * My Yelp * Instagram * HomeSnap* Pintrest * LinkedIN Sabrina * LinkedIN Susan

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties

Sabrina DRE# 01413526 / Susan DRE #01238225 / Team DRE# 70000218/ Office DRE #01499008

The Caton Team does not receive compensation for any posts. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Third party information not verified.

How to get pre-approved for a home loan

Step 1: Gather financial information

Step 2: Select a lender to work with

Step 3: Get pre-approved

Step 4: Close on your home

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How many homes should you see?

Narrowing your search

Now what?

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Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices – Drysdale Properties, Redwood City Ca.

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