Moving to California? How to Buy a Home Near the Beach in Southern California

Can you move to California and buy a home near the beach? Yes, and the basic steps are the same whether you're coming from across town or across the country. Get pre-approved before you tour anything, know your credit score, plan for your down payment and closing costs, and work with people who know the area. This first-time home buyer seminar walks through all of it in plain English. Dreaming of ocean air, palm trees, and never owning a snow shovel again? Same. We recorded this one on Zoom in November 2024, so interest rates, loan programs, and prices have probably changed since then. The basics still hold up, but please check today's numbers with a lender before you make any big moves. Kimberly Smith and David Sanchez of Living CA Realty were joined by lender Charlie Shatafian, who was with Prime Equity Mortgage when we recorded this and is now with Mamba Capital Lending. We cover how the home buying process kicks off, why a pre-approval matters, what lenders look at, credit scores, FHA vs conventional vs VA loans, the ten things NOT to do during the loan process, how much money you may need, and the path from first meeting to getting your keys. We help buyers in Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Seal Beach, and throughout LA County and Orange County. Want to talk through your own move? Reach out to either of us. No pressure, just a real conversation. We host free classes and webinars all the time, so you can see what's coming up below. If this helped, subscribe and tell us where you're moving from in the comments. Kimberly Smith, Long Beach Realtor serving LA and Orange County Living CA Realty https://www.LivingCARealty.com Kimberly Smith, Living CA Realty, Brokered by eXp Realty DRE# 02099190 562-505-7754 Kimberly@KBSHouses.com https://www.kbshouses.com David Sanchez, Living CA Realty, Brokered by eXp Realty DRE# 02029945 562-537-9206 David@LivingCARealty.com https://www.YourRealtorDavid.com Charlie Shatafian 562-221-6977 Charlie@CSLendingCo.com Upcoming seminars and events: https://www.eventbrite.com/o/kimberly... This video is for general education only. It is not financial, legal, tax, or lending advice. It was recorded in 2024, and loan programs, interest rates, and real estate rules change often. Please talk with a licensed lender and a Realtor about your own situation before making any decisions. #MovingToCalifornia #SouthernCaliforniaRealEstate #FirstTimeHomeBuyer