For the California first time home buyer (Ca first time home buyer) it would be to their advantage to get pre-approved for a home loan, than to be pre-qualified. Pre-qualification by a lender only give you an insight as to your capability to borrow and how much, it is a simple process and not comprehensive or accurate. Being pre-qualified is no guarantee that you can get a loan and you’ll have to go through the pre-approval process to do so.

Many California first time home buyers have an idea of what they would like in a home, but very few have actually thought of it in depth, or have managed to put it on paper. So let’s begin by getting our thoughts and ideas into perspective, you can start wherever you like.

If you ask many California first time home buyer what’s their best home, they will tell you a home on its own land. But one should consider alternate styles of dwelling, condos, townhouses, and apartments. They’ve many advantages and few disadvantages and are quite attractive. With townhouses, condos, and apartments you do not own the land around it, so the upkeep is not your problem. But there’s a monthly maintenance fee to take care of that.