Buying your first home in LA or Orange County? Here's everything you need to know — from pre-qualification to close of escrow — including how to get cash back at closing.
Step 1: Get pre-qualified before you do anything else
In Southern California's competitive market, pre-qualification isn't optional — it's the price of admission. Sellers won't take your offer seriously without it. Our lending partner Save Financial can pre-qualify you in about 5 minutes, for free, with no credit score impact.
Step 2: Understand the true cost of buying in SoCal
The purchase price is just the start. Budget for:
- Down payment: 3–20% depending on loan type
- Closing costs: Typically 1.5–2.5% of loan amount
- Home inspection: $400–$800
- Moving costs: $2,000–$8,000
- Your Portfolio Home Realty rebate: 1% back — which offsets these costs significantly
Step 3: Choose the right city for your budget
- Under $800K: Inglewood, Hawthorne, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Long Beach
- $800K–$1.2M: Torrance, Burbank, Glendale, Irvine, Tustin, Fountain Valley
- $1.2M–$2M: Culver City, Santa Monica, Pasadena, Westwood, Marina del Rey
- $2M+: Newport Beach, Manhattan Beach, Venice, Beverly Hills, Malibu
Step 4: Understand the offer process
In SoCal, well-priced homes often receive multiple offers within days. Our agents run a full comparable market analysis before you write any offer, so you bid smart — not just high.
The first-time buyer rebate advantage
Your 1% rebate can cover closing costs — which means less cash out of pocket on closing day. On a $900,000 Torrance purchase, that's $9,000 back. Real money that makes homeownership more accessible.