Buyer’s Guide | Venice Beach Real Estate

Step 1: Research

Do you already know where you want to buy? If you want a condo, townhome, or single-family home? Which features do you like and dislike? What’s available on the market now? If you answered no to any of these questions, now is the time to start researching. In addition to looking for homes that interest you, also take note of any changes in asking prices. This could give you valuable insight into housing trends in specific neighborhoods and help you when the time comes to make an offer.

Step 2: Decide on Your Budget

Notice I said to decide on your budget—not determine how much the mortgage company will give you. In many cases, a mortgage company will pre-approve you for more than you’re comfortable spending, which is why you need to determine the monthly payment you feel comfortable with before talking to a lender. This likely includes doing a full household budget and taking into consideration what changes other than a mortgage payment will occur once you move into your new home. If you’ve lived in an apartment or with roommates, you may overlook new expenses like garbage, water, or HOA fees that could easily blow your budget.

Step 3: Get Prequalified

Just because you think you can afford a certain payment every month doesn’t mean the mortgage company will agree. Just as they may approve you for too large of an amount, they may also approve you for a lesser amount or deny you a mortgage altogether. Lack of time at a job, insufficient credit, past bankruptcies, or other financial issues can cause major problems when trying to secure a mortgage. Before you get your heart set on a home, talk to a mortgage professional to find out what amount you can qualify for. This will also be an advantage when you make an offer on a home, as some sellers won’t entertain offers from those who aren’t already prequalified for a loan.

Step 4: Choose a Real Estate Agent

Can you shop for, look at, and ultimately make an offer on a home without a real estate agent? Technically yes, but why would you when it costs you nothing for an agent like me to take much of the stress off your shoulders? Not only will I help identify properties you might be interested in, arrange showings, and ultimately handle the offer process, but I also have a knowledge of the market that you don’t possess. Finding the perfect home can be a daunting task, this is where my expertise and wealth of knowledge come into play. Let me show you around some homes that meet your dream home criteria so you can find the one that's right for you.

Step 5: Find the Right Home

This should be the most enjoyable step of the entire process (other than moving in!). I will arrange showings of homes you’re interested in that are within your price range. Take notes about what you like and don’t like, and make sure to pay attention to details. Turn light switches on and off, open and close doors, and run the faucets in various rooms. Don’t limit your inspection to the home itself. Make sure to take time to explore the neighborhood and keep an eye on traffic at certain times of the day, the parking situation, and how close it is to necessities like schools and grocery stores.

Step 6: Make an Offer

Once you have selected the perfect home, work with your agent to craft a fair offer based on the value of comparable homes on the market. Depending on what the home is listed at and whether the current environment is a buyer’s or seller’s market, your offer may be below, at, or even above the asking price. I will be able to help you negotiate if you receive a counteroffer and reach an agreement. At this point, the house will go into escrow.

Step 7: Have the Home Inspected

In most cases, your offer will be contingent on having the home inspected to ensure there is no major structural damage or large repairs needed. I can help you arrange this, and you can schedule it within days of making an offer. If there are no major issues, the process goes to step eight. If there is, you can renegotiate your offer based on what needs to be fixed, or you can withdraw it.

Step 8: Select Your Loan

Now is the time to go back to the mortgage lender who pre-approved or pre-qualified you and choose your mortgage. You will be presented with various options based on your unique financial situation, including fixed-rate, variable-rate, 15-year, 30-year, or special programs such as VA loans or FHA loans. Work with your mortgage lender to select the option you feel the most comfortable with.

Step 9: Get a Home Appraisal

Your lender will have your new home appraised so they have their independent value of it. The appraisal is to ensure that all parties involved are paying a fair price for the house.

Step 10: Finish Paperwork

No one looks forward to all the paperwork involved in buying a home, but it’s a necessary part of the process. Fortunately, everything will be arranged by your lender and title company and, when you’re finished, you’ll know you are the legal owner of your new home.

My Testimonials

See why my clients love working with me.

Michael K.

This is my 2nd transaction with Steven. He is the best, absolutely unlike other real estate agents. Professional, experienced, with the client's best interests at heart. Highly recommended.

Bubba J.

I highly recommend Stephen. Stephen has a calm demeanor that took the stress out of a usually difficult process. He knows the market and how to guide us, clients, through a successful transaction.

Bobby B.

Steven is one of the hardest-working agents around. He always makes time for you and you always leave with a smile on your face. Not only did he help us into our dream home, but he has also helped my referrals into theirs!

Seller

Steven is a great agent who is experienced, helpful, and understanding, and went the extra mile listing our property, negotiating the contract price, and closing escrow on time. I'm very satisfied and I highly recommend Steven.

Dan A.

Steven is absolutely wonderful to work with. It’s like having a friend on the inside that is working for you. He is smart, and hard-working and gives maximum effort to make sure that your purchase or sale is smooth and hassle-f...

Todd H.

Steven did an excellent job at finding me the perfect real estate investment. He is very knowledgeable and patient. He makes you feel like he's in the business to help you, not for the money. He's a rarity in the Los Angeles ma...

Buyer

Steven was very persistent and presented us with many great options. He navigated all of the issues and questions super quickly and clearly. He also always made me feel like he had my back and triple-checked everything with all...

Julia C.

Steven was a delight to work with. We were first-time homebuyers and put in an offer on a house we didn't even get to see before we were in escrow. He patiently walked us through every step of the process and stayed in touch af...

Eyal R.

Steve is a great guy and a pleasure to work with! I trust him 100%, he represented me in multiple transactions including my first home where I currently reside in. In the past couple of months, he sold two properties for me and...

Danielle C.

I highly recommend Steven for his well-rounded knowledge of the real estate industry. Steven is one of a kind - truly in this for his client's best interest. Steven answered all of my calls and was patient with my many question...

Seller

Steven was a pleasure to work with. He was our agent when we bought the property a few years ago and was also our agent when we sold the property recently. He worked hard to make sure all of the little details were taken care o...

Erin N.

I’ve had the privilege of working with Steven Kirshbaum for our home purchases and sales for almost 10 years and I cannot recommend him enough. He is incredibly patient, thoughtful, and thorough, and goes out of his way to help...

Terry W.

Steven is incredible. He is one of the hardest-working real estate agents I have ever worked with. He’s involved from the very beginning of any project. And he knows how to negotiate better than anyone I’ve ever seen. He got me...

Desireh S.

I have done multiple transactions with Steven (both in a hot and cool market) and he was able to get me the best deal and smoothest outcome. He is professional and very cool-headed - which I believe is necessary for making such...

Gabriella R.

My husband and I used Steven to rent and also to purchase our house in Santa Monica. He was incredibly helpful and dedicated to both. He is always available no matter what time of day or night. He went way above and beyond not ...

Sam W.

Steven is hands down the best! Steven helped us stay positive and calm during the purchase of two different properties over the last number of years. Steven has a rare ability to mitigate complicated issues while keeping all pa...

Candice H.

Steven represented my husband and I selling our Westside condo and purchasing a new home in the valley for our growing family. He worked efficiently and thoughtfully to make sure we moved from one residence to another, seamless...

Gavin B.

Steven Rocks! Working with Steven through a very unpredictable, and sometimes depressing Los Angeles housing market, Steven came through and found my partner and me a great place. Based on a close friend’s recommendation Steven...

Jam Y.

Steven is a ridiculously hardworking agent. He was available to us at all points of this process, almost all day and night. His knowledge of LA and of house buying (and selling) is extensive and as we searched for our forever h...

Buyer & Seller

Steven is the absolute best! He helped us both sell our condo in Venice Beach and purchase a new home in South Redondo Beach. Leading up to the listing of our condo, he spent hours and hours answering our questions, and providi...

Work With Steven

Steven can provide a high level of commitment and dedication to individualized service for clients, as well as personal attention to every aspect of the real estate transaction, guidance and interaction. You can count on him for guiding you in your real estate journey.

Let’s Connect

Buyer's Guide

A Step-by-Step First Time Buyer's Guide