Homebuying
Buying a Foreclosure or HomePath Property: Verify the Deal First
Separate auction, short-sale and REO purchases while checking condition, financing and the current HomePath offer process.
THE ECHL BLOG
Homebuying
Prepare for a purchase, understand approval and plan your next steps.
Looking for the essential steps? Start with our buyer and homeowner guides.
18 articles · Page 1 of 2
Homebuying · California
California Closing Escrow: Who Holds What and When
Follow the purchase escrow process from deposit through recording while keeping closing escrow separate from mortgage impounds.
Homebuying · California
California Homebuyer Assistance: Check the Terms Before Counting the Funds
Distinguish grants, deferred loans and shared appreciation while checking program status, lender participation and repayment triggers.
Homebuying · California
California Unclaimed Property and Your Homebuying Funds
Search the official state program safely and understand what to document before relying on recovered funds for a home purchase.
Homebuying
Choosing a Mortgage Lender or Broker: Costs, Access and Service
Compare direct lenders, mortgage brokers and agent referrals using written offers, clear roles and questions about compensation.
Homebuying · California
Compare California Locations by the Cost of Living in the Home
Look beyond a county’s median price to insurance, taxes, travel, services and property-specific costs before expanding your home search.
Homebuying
Mortgage Credit Scores: Eligibility, Pricing and Preparation
Understand why mortgage scores differ, how program and lender rules interact and what to review before a loan application.
Homebuying · California
Ending a California Lease While Preparing to Buy
Coordinate rental notice, possible early termination, closing uncertainty and moving costs before leaving a California rental.
Homebuying · California
Estimate a California Mortgage Payment From the Property Up
Build a payment estimate with the right loan inputs, property taxes, insurance and ownership costs instead of a statewide average.
Homebuying
Your First Home: From Budget to Closing
Plan the cash you need, compare financing and coordinate the property review without treating preapproval as a promise of funding.
Homebuying
Debt-to-Income Ratio: What a Mortgage Review Measures
Understand mortgage DTI, qualifying income, counted debts and why lender eligibility differs from your household spending budget.
Homebuying
Mortgage Underwriting: Turn Conditions Into a Closing Plan
Understand the borrower and property reviews, conditional approval and the documents that can keep a mortgage file moving.