Buying a home isn’t just a transaction—it’s an investment in your future, your community, and your peace of mind. It’s where your story unfolds. Whether you're hoping to ditch the rent game, get your kids into better schools, or finally have that guest room (slash gym, slash office), this guide will walk you through where to start—even if you're not financially ready just yet.
Step 1: Get Clear on Your Goals
Before you even peek at Zillow:
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Are you buying so you’re not throwing money away renting a place?
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Do you want a backyard for your kids, a pool, a guesthouse for the in-laws?
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Need a 4 car garage because you have a luxury car addiction?
Write all the reasons you want to purchase a home and all the “non-negotiables” you are looking for in a home. If this is your first home, remember it’s not about buying the dream home you see on Instagram, it’s just about getting in and seeing where you can create value. Knowing your “why” makes the process less overwhelming and helps your real estate agent narrow the search.
Pro tip: Make a list of must-haves (location, number of bedrooms) vs. nice-to-haves (butler's pantry, ocean view, separate tequila fridge).
Step 2: Speak With a Lender or Mortgage Broker
Even if you're not ready to buy this month, a lender can help you understand:
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How much home can you afford?- lenders are very interested in your debt to income ratio. DTI is the percentage of your gross monthly income that goes toward debt payments. Think car loans, student loans, credit cards, and any other monthly obligations. Most lenders want to see your DTI below 36%, (33% is even better—it’s that “safe zone” sweet spot.) Why does it matter? Because even if you have great credit, if your monthly debts are eating up too much of your income, lenders may decide you’re overextended and offer you a smaller loan—or none at all.
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What your credit score is doing to your interest rate? Meaning the better credit score you have the lower your interest rate will be. The higher your score, the more lenders will trust that you're a low-risk borrower. And that trust? It turns into a lower interest rate, which means you pay less for the same house over time.
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How to improve your financial profile if needed- A good lender doesn’t just approve loans. They help you build a plan. Here’s a trick I personally know of that can help. Pay one credit card down to $0—even if it’s the card with the lowest balance.
This is because:
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It lowers your credit utilization ratio (how much of your available credit you're using)
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It tells lenders (and credit bureaus) you can responsibly manage revolving debt
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It can make a meaningful impact on your score within a 30-day cycle
⚠️ Pro tip: Don’t close that account once it’s paid off. Keep it open. A zero balance on an older account is like gold to your credit profile. You don’t need perfect credit or a huge down payment to buy a home—but you do need a clear plan.
If you’re not financially ready yet:
Start small. Check your credit reports, pay down high-interest debts, and set up a monthly savings plan for your down payment. Many lenders offer free consultations and guidance. You're not committing—you're just prepping your future self for a win.
Step 3: Get Pre-Approved for a Mortgage
This step is 🔑. A pre-approval letter:
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Shows sellers you’re serious- and this is a requirement if you are working with me. I do not want to waste anyone’s time without proving we are financially good candidates for the home you want to purchase. I help clients achieve big goals with their home purchase. We work as a team and I will work hard for you as my client but you also have to hold your end of the bargain!
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Helps you understand your buying power- This is very important because you need to understand how much you have to spend in order to get in the home and the lifestyle you are looking for. Understanding this helps with all the costs associated with purchasing a home like closing costs, commissions, renovations, future dream to do improvements, etc.
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Keeps you from falling in love with a home you can’t afford (ouch!)- This one is pretty self explanatory.
Most sellers won’t even consider an offer without this, and if I were representing the seller, neither would I. Think of it as your VIP pass to tour homes and submit offers. It’s the first step to get the home & lifestyle you want!
Step 4: Hire a Real Estate Agent You Actually Like
Yes, you could go it alone... but would you perform your own root canal too? Or maybe this year, you don’t need an accountant to file your taxes- sure you could do it yourself but there are a lot of financial issues you could run into if you don’t have your own representation.
You need someone who:
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Know the real estate market and neighborhoods you're interested in.
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Can make sure they are working for you and your best interest and needs for your next home. The biggest thing I would look for is: does this person work hard? Are they busy but still available 24/7 hrs a day? Do they just have “commission breathe” or seem self-centered around helping you? Do they try to get to know you and your family or are they distant and seem like they don’t care? Whatever is important to you, make sure your agent carries these qualities because this is a huge financial investment and buying a home is personal!
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Will fight for you to get you the best deal on your home. They should help guide you around common pitfalls, questions or concerns.
Cassie French helps clients across Newport Beach, North Tustin and mostly North Orange County. My goal goes beyond finding you a home, but a winning strategy to get you the home you want and for the price that you are comfortable with. We’ll dig deep into your goals, timeline, and what makes the most sense for you financially. I also am very familiar with the pros and cons of each city and neighborhood. Based on my experience and expertise, we can find what is best for you with
Step 5: Start Shopping (The Smart Way)
This is where things get exciting. Based on everything we’ve discussed in Steps 1 through 4—your budget, goals, must-haves, and nice-to-haves—I’ll begin sending you listings to review. Some will check all your boxes, while others might fall just slightly outside your initial search criteria. Why? Because sometimes the best opportunities are the ones you didn’t expect.
As you review each listing, I want to hear what you do like and what you don’t. This feedback is gold—it helps me fine-tune our search and get us closer to your ideal home faster.
When we tour homes together, I’ll help you look beyond the obvious. Yes, we’ll take note of the trendy wallpaper or awkward furniture placement, but we’ll stay focused on the intangibles: backyard size, whether or not there’s room for a pool, natural light, layout flow, quality of finishes, long-term maintenance needs, and—of course—the neighborhood vibe.
Sometimes, the best value is hiding behind a dated kitchen or questionable paint color. That’s where my background in design and flipping homes comes in—I’ll help you see the potential and where you can easily add equity over time.
But if you're not in the mood for a project and want that move-in perfect home with the updated everything? We can absolutely find that too. My job is to match your lifestyle, budget, and goals—not squeeze you into something that isn’t the right fit.
Home shopping should be fun, empowering, and vision-driven—and I’m here to guide you every step of the way.
Step 6: Found The Perfect One- Let’s Make an Offer
The home that checks all your boxes (and maybe even a few you didn’t know you had). Now it’s time to make your move.
I’ll help you craft a strong, strategic offer that reflects:
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Market Comparables: We’ll look at recent sales in the neighborhood to ensure your offer is competitive but also smart—you don’t want to overpay, and you definitely don’t want to get outbid over a few thousand dollars.
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Seller Motivation: Is the seller relocating for a job? Already in escrow on their next home? Knowing their situation gives us leverage in how we structure your offer and negotiate terms.
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Creative Terms: Sometimes, it’s not just about price. We can explore offering concessions, seller credits for closing costs, flexible timelines, or even including furniture or appliances if it sweetens the deal for both sides.
Once the offer is accepted, we open escrow—a formal process where all the moving pieces come together. During this time:
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We’ll schedule inspections to ensure the home is in solid condition.
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Your lender will order an appraisal to confirm the value.
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We’ll negotiate repairs or credits if needed.
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You’ll finalize your loan paperwork and get all the legal docs squared away.
I'll be with you through every step of escrow, managing deadlines, answering your late-night questions, and making sure no detail falls through the cracks.
Before you know it, you’ll be holding the keys to your new home—ready to pop the champagne, measure for window treatments, and start the next chapter.
Not Ready Yet? You Can Still Start.
If your credit score needs some TLC or your savings are slim, that’s okay. The most important thing is to start the conversation. I’ve worked with buyers who took 3 months and buyers who took 3 years. If you want to own a home, we can build the roadmap.
Because homeownership isn’t just about a roof.
It’s about:
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Stability
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Wealth-building
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Freedom
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Legacy
Action is the first step! By calling someone, like Cassie French, who will walk you through it—every single step of the way.
💬 Ready to talk game plan—even if you're not ready to buy?
Shoot me a message and let’s build your roadmap to homeownership.
