Congratulations on your decision to make 2021 the year you become a homeowner! Rates are crazy low, Covid is here to stay (for now) and you can’t get out of your cramped quarters fast enough! But what do you do and where do you start? Before you start favoriting homes on Redfin or picking out patio furniture, the very first thing you have to do is — take a deep breath. Really.
Buying a home in the Eastside of L.A. — the most intense region in all of Southern California, is not for the faint of heart. There will be drama and sometimes, a few tears. My role as your agent is to take as many of those bumps for you, be your neutral sounding board, voice of reason, strategist, therapist, cheerleader and friend in what will probably be one of the most exhilarating experiences of your life, outside of marriage and kids. I’m here to make it as fun and memorable as possible, for all the best reasons.
After you’ve decided to work with me 
the most important next step is to reach out to a lender to find out 1) what you can get pre-approved for and more importantly, 2) determine if you can actually afford that monthly payment. Getting your pre-approval is crucial because 1) you can explore or eliminate certain neighborhoods and 2) you can’t write an offer or sometimes even tour a house without it. Figure out your finances early on so we can zero in on the neighborhoods we can look at. Here are my longtime preferred lenders who I love and I think you will too!
Eddie Ajamian, Journey Mortgage Advisors, eddie@journeymac.com
Jinhee Hann & Alex Rodriguez, PNC Bank, alex.rodriguez5@pnc.com, jinhee.hann@pnc.com
Once you get your pre-approval, let me know! In 2020 I represented 18 buyers who all won the golden ticket — the elusive multiple counter offer, dun dun dun. They battled anywhere from 10-32 offers, and we ultimately won the house. Many times we got an extra edge because of my friendly relationship with the seller’s agent. Other times it was the way in which I advocated for my clients as the ones who would successfully close the deal — even when we were NOT the highest offer and still won.
In this intense, Eastside sellers’ market, who your agent is matters. Relationships, reputation and experience matters. In 2021 I’d be happy and honored to help you find your way home. Now seriously, go reach out to a lender!
