Start Your Home Buying Journey with Confidence
Your Guide to Buying a Home in Orange County & the Inland Empire
Buying a home is one of life’s most exciting milestones—and one of its most important financial decisions. From understanding today’s market conditions to navigating financing, negotiations, and closing, having a trusted professional by your side can make the entire process smoother and more rewarding.
This buyer’s guide is designed to help you approach your home purchase with confidence. Drawing on over 14 years of real estate experience, Shelli Banko provides the insights, strategies, and local expertise needed to help you make informed decisions, avoid common pitfalls, and find the right home for your lifestyle and goals.
Find An Agent
GET PRE-QUALIFIED
Before you begin touring homes, it’s important to get pre-approved for a mortgage unless you’re purchasing with cash. A pre-approval helps you understand your budget, clarifies your purchasing power, and demonstrates to sellers that you’re a qualified and serious buyer.
Shelli Banko can connect you with trusted lending professionals who will evaluate your financial profile and help determine the financing options that best fit your needs. Starting with a pre-approval allows you to shop with confidence and focus on homes that align with your goals and budget.
VISIT PROPERTIES
Tour a variety of homes, attend open houses, and explore different neighborhoods to gain a better understanding of what fits your lifestyle and goals. As you compare properties, consider factors such as location, commute times, school districts, community amenities, and the features that matter most to you.
This stage of the process helps you refine your priorities and identify the type of home that best meets your needs, making it easier to recognize the right opportunity when it becomes available.
NEGOTIATE
When you find the right home, Shelli Banko will help you prepare and submit a competitive offer designed to position you for success. Your offer will outline the proposed purchase price, terms, and conditions while reflecting current market conditions and your unique goals.
If the seller responds with a counteroffer, Shelli will guide you through the negotiation process, explaining your options and helping you make informed decisions every step of the way. With expert advice, strategic negotiation, and a commitment to protecting your interests, Shelli works to help you secure the best possible outcome.
Making Your Homeownership Dreams a Reality
REVIEW
Once your offer is accepted, you’ll receive important documents and disclosures that outline the terms and details of the transaction. Taking the time to carefully review these materials helps ensure you fully understand your rights, responsibilities, and key deadlines throughout the purchase process.
Shelli Banko will guide you through each step, helping coordinate with the appropriate professionals and ensuring you have the information needed to make confident, informed decisions. Her goal is to keep the process clear, organized, and as stress-free as possible from contract to closing.
GO TO CONTRACT
After all parties have agreed to the terms, you’ll sign the purchase agreement and submit your earnest money deposit. This deposit demonstrates your commitment to the transaction and is typically applied toward your down payment or closing costs at closing.
Shelli Banko will help ensure all deadlines are met, documents are properly executed, and the process moves forward smoothly as you transition into escrow.
COMPLETE LOAN APPLICATION
As part of the financing process, your lender will typically order an appraisal to determine the property’s fair market value. The appraiser will evaluate the home’s condition, features, location, and comparable recent sales to ensure the property’s value supports the agreed-upon purchase price.
Shelli Banko will work closely with the appraiser and provide relevant market data when appropriate, helping facilitate a smooth appraisal process and keeping your transaction on track.
PREPARE YOUR BOARD PACKAGE
If the home you’re purchasing is located within a homeowners association (HOA), condominium community, or planned development, there may be additional documents and requirements to review before closing. These can include association rules, fees, financial disclosures, and community guidelines that may impact your ownership experience.
Shelli Banko will help you understand these documents, answer your questions, and coordinate with the appropriate parties to ensure all requirements are completed on time. Her goal is to keep the process organized and help you move forward with confidence as you prepare for closing.
BOARD APPROVES THE PURCHASE
Once all inspections, financing requirements, disclosures, and contingencies have been satisfied, you’ll receive confirmation that your transaction is moving forward toward closing. This is an exciting milestone, signaling that the major steps of the home-buying process have been successfully completed.
Shelli Banko will continue to guide you through the final stages of the transaction, coordinating with all parties involved and ensuring every detail stays on track. Her goal is to provide a smooth, organized experience so you can focus on the excitement of becoming a homeowner.
BANK ISSUES The CLEARANCE TO CLOSE
CLOSING SCHEDULED BY ATTORNEYS
FINAL WALK-THROUGH WITH YOUR AGENT
CLOSING
Congratulations, You are now a home owner!
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Your Real Estate Goals
Whether you’re buying your first home, selling a property, or simply exploring your options, Shelli Banko is here to provide the guidance and support you need to move forward with confidence.