How to Buy a Home in Silicon Valley

Here are the steps I recommend to first-time and experienced home buyers, with articles detailing what to think about and what to do.

Step 0 - Know What Questions to Ask Yourself. If you only read one piece of advice, read this one.

Step 1 - Understand Your Fears. No matter how much research and analysis you do, there is going to come a point where you have to make life-changing decisions.

Step 2 - Know the Silicon Valley Market. The reality of what homes and their values are doing may surprise you.

Step 3 - Prepare Your Finances. The greatest pain people experience during a home search is finding a home they love and not being ready to act.

Step 4 - Decide How to Run Your Home Search. Going to homes is time-consuming. Planning will make the search less stressful.

Step 5 - Choose What You're Willing to Give Up. Because homes are so expensive in Silicon Valley, if you don't know what you're willing to trade-off, you'll pass up good homes for a perfect one which may not be in your price range.

Step 6 - Search for Homes

Step 7 - Decide How Much You Would Pay. When you find a home you like, separate the question "How much SHOULD I pay?" from "How much WOULD I pay?"

Step 8 - Gather Information About the Sellers. This will help answer the question "How much SHOULD I pay?"

Step 9 - Know How to Protect Yourself and Make an Offer. Your agent writes up the contract.