The Great SoCal House Hunt step-by-step guide

Before starting your home buying search, experts say you should figure out much you can borrow — and whether a smaller mortgage would be wiser.

Most people don’t buy a home with a 20% down payment. Here’s how you can put down less and get more help with down payment and closing costs.

A mortgage will be the largest sum of money you ever borrow. How do you find a good lender? What is a conforming loan? What’s a rate lock? We explain.

Home-scrolling is a special kind of pastime in Southern California. Save your precious hours with this rundown of popular real estate search sites.

Agents have expertise, tactics and contacts that newbie buyers need, and they’re everywhere — even on TikTok. How do you choose the right one for you?

Here are some open house dos, don’ts and red flags — with a handy checklist to remind you what to ask and look out for.

Five homebuyers tell us how they chose which neighborhood to commit to in Greater Los Angeles — no small feat.

Here are some tips to make your offer stand out from the rest and help you win (or bypass) the bidding war.

“Buyer interest� letters are common in ultra-competitive housing markets like California’s, even though they raise questions of discrimination.

After the seller accepts your offer, you enter one of the most confusing and nerve-racking processes in the home-buying experience: Escrow.

Many people underestimate the cost of the home-buying process and owning a home beyond the mortgage. Closing costs are a big one.

Uncommon ways to buy a home