Resources for Buyers

In choosing your new home, location is one of the most important aspects of this decision.  Location includes attributes such as the quality and reputation of its school district; the level of safety in the community; proximity to health care, employment, entertainment, dining, and transportation. Here are some resources to help you assess these attributes. 

School District Info and Ratings 

Poway/Rancho Bernardo/Carmel Mountain Ranch/Rancho Penasquitos
Del Sur/4s Ranch/Santa Luz/Torrey HighLands

• Poway Unified School District

• School Boundary Maps

• Lookup schools by Address

Scripps Ranch/Mira Mesa

• San Diego Unified School District

Carmel Valley/Solana Beach/Del Mar

• San Dieguito Union High School District

• Solana Beach School District

• Del Mar Union School District

Escondido

• Escondido Union School Disctrict

• Escondido High School District

School Info and Ratings

Trusted ratings and school information help parents find the right school for their family. Niche and GreatSchools are great resources for information on schools.

Community Info and Stats

City-Data.com collects and analyzes data from a variety of government and private sources, creating detailed, informative profiles for every city in the United States from crime rates to weather patterns.

How Safe is my Community

CrimeMapping.com provides the public with valuable information about recent crime activity in their neighborhood. Crime data is extracted on a regular basis from each department's records system so that the information being viewed through a Web browser is the most current available.

Protect Yourself against Fraud during your Move

Don't let scammers burst your bubble! The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration offers free resources and tools to help prepare for your move and to protect yourself from moving fraud. Before moving your household goods interstate, movers are required to give you the “Your Rights and Responsibilities When You Move” booklet and FMCSA's Ready to Move brochure to help you understand the documents that a mover will ask you to sign, and explains your rights if your household goods are lost or damaged.

Lenders and Mortgage Brokers 

Keep in mind, throughout the process of being approved to purchase your new home, the mortgage company is considering lending you a sizable amount of money. They are going to be sure you qualify by documenting your income, assets, liabilities and credit.  If you follow their direction, they will work to make the process as quick and smooth as possible.

• Avalon Mortgage – Heidi Davlie, 858-625-8533

• Prosperity Home Mortgage – Gian Ceretto, 619-573-5778

• Benchmark Mortgage – Dean Brown, 858-774-0622

Questions to Ask When Interviewing Lenders

About Them

1. How long have you been in the mortgage business?

2. What sets you apart?

3. Why do you do what you do?

4. When are you available to clients? 8-5, etc.

5. Why do you work for the firm you work for?

6. What percentage of your business is purchase vs. Refinance?

Communications

1. If I need a pre-approval on a weekend, will I be able to reach you?

2. We work during the day and it is tough to talk during business hours, can we reach you in the evening when questions come up?

3. Are you always available for my questions/concerns?

4. Will you be my main point of contact until the loan closes? If not, will your assistant be available to answer my questions?

5. How often will you communicate with us regarding the progress of our loan?

The Process

1. Once I submit my application, how long will it take to get pre-approved and the final approval?

2. Are the appraisers or appraisal management companies that you company uses local?

3. How are the interest rates and origination points/credits related?

4. How do I know which loan product is the best for me?

5. When and how do you decide to lock the interest rate?

6. When can I lift the loan contingency?

7. Do you charge any origination, or discount fees/points?

8. What are the total lender costs, excluding taxes, escrow and title, that I will be charged for this loan?

9. How often do you close on time?

Property Inspection

Please call and discuss your inspection needs with some of our referrals.