The buyer's playbook

Your Path Home

A confident, plain-language guide to buying a home in the Bay Area, from first conversation to keys in hand. Fifteen steps, five phases, one page each.

For buyers pdf · 24 pages Download PDF

The buyer’s playbook I hand to every first-time client. It is the whole transaction in one document: every form you’ll sign, every report you’ll read, every deadline you need to hit, and the questions to ask yourself at each step.

What’s inside

The 15-step roadmap, from your first sit-down to the morning you get your keys.
A plain-language BRBC walkthrough so the buyer-rep agreement is no surprise.
What to look at on a tour versus what’s safe to ignore.
The core California disclosure forms (TDS, SPQ, NHD, AVID) translated.
Contingencies, EMD, and wire-fraud safety: the parts that protect you.
The three rules I hold every transaction to.

Who it’s for

If you have never bought a home in California, start here. If you have bought a home before but it has been more than five years, the rules have changed and this will catch you up.

How to use it

Read it once cover-to-cover. Don’t fill in the questions yet. Just get the shape of the process in your head. Then we sit down for forty-five minutes and walk through what matters for you.

Or read it here

Flip through the playbook without leaving the page.

Click below to load an inline flipbook. Use the fullscreen button for a much bigger view. Arrow keys, side controls, or clicking the edge of a page all turn it.

Before you dive in

Common questions about the process.

How long does it take to buy a home, start to finish?

A first-time Bay Area buyer who's serious can reasonably expect to be in contract within 2 to 16 weeks of getting started, and in the home 21 to 40 days after that. Some buyers move faster, some take a year. Both are fine. The market rewards prepared patience.

What is escrow and how long does it last?

Escrow is the neutral third party that holds the funds and paperwork while the sale completes, making sure every condition is met before money and keys change hands. In the Bay Area, escrow typically runs about 21 to 40 days from accepted offer to close.

What are contingencies and which ones matter?

Contingencies are your built-in exit ramps, each with a deadline. The three you'll usually see are the investigation (inspection) contingency, the loan contingency, and the appraisal contingency, all defaulting to 17 days in California. Removing one in writing puts your deposit at risk for that issue, so it's a real decision, not a checkbox. Here's the honest math on when waiving makes sense.

What disclosures will I get, and do I really need to read them?

In California, sellers must disclose what they know about a property. Add the inspection reports and you have a small library to read before offering: the TDS, SPQ, NHD, AVID, and third-party reports. Yes, you read them, and I read every one with you and flag what needs real attention. This is where deals are won or lost. Here's what a clean disclosure package looks like.

See all frequently asked questions