So you've decided you'd like to buy your first home.  Great!  So what do you do next?  My advice is to meet with a few local real estate agents who work full time helping clients to buy & sell homes in the community you'd like to live in.  These agents will have the best understanding of the local market, which will serve your needs best.

Since buying a home is likely the largest financial transaction you will ever undertake, your primary goal is to find an agent you are comfortable working with.  Your comfort should be with both their expertise in real estate and the local market as well as their working style.  Do you prefer an agent who is very aggressive, or one that is more easy-going?  The best way for you to develop a comfort level is to visit with the agents in person to share your goals and ask lots of questions. 

Your second goal is to learn about the home buying process.  You want to understand the steps, time frames, costs of buying, etc.  Ask about the entire process beginning with arranging your financing, searching for and negotiating an offer on a home, the escrow process and ultimately getting the keys to your home.

The agents should explain what costs are typically paid for by the buyers (lender fees, title & escrow fees, etc, in Contra Costa County) and which are typically paid for by the sellers (county transfer tax, home warranty, real estate commissions, etc, in my area) and provide you with an estimate of the costs you will incur as a buyer. 

Your third goal is to begin to learn about the current real estate market.  Ask for a list of homes that meet your basic needs.  Let the agents know what you're looking for in size, bedrooms, bathrooms, backyard, schools, neighborhoods, etc.  The more information you provide, the better the agents can narrow down the choices to your specific needs.  If you are not very familiar with the community you're moving to, ask the agents opinions on best neighborhoods based on your desires.  The list of homes that meet your basic needs will give you an idea of what is available and the pricing of those homes.

Ask the agents how the market is, especially for buyers.  When I first published this article back in early 2005, it was a hot seller's market and buyers had to be prepared to compete with multiple offers and be able to make quick decisions.  That's no longer the case locally.  Currently buyers can take their time evaluating properties and make offers below the asking price and have a shot of working out a great deal.  What are the agents' opinions of where the market is heading and why do they feel that way?  They should be able to support their positions based on facts, not wishful thinking. 

Once you find a realtor that you are comfortable with and confident will work hard for you, work exclusively with that agent.  View that agent as your single resource for your real estate needs and stick with your realtor as long as you're satisfied. 

If you are considering buying in the areas I cover, Antioch, Brentwood, Oakley, Discovery Bay, etc, I would love to be one of the agents you interview.  If you are looking at other communities, you may still contact me and I'll interview agents over the phone and give you 2 or 3 names of agents I feel would represent you well.