First home
First-time home buyer guidance in Orange County
A plan before the tour.
First-time home buyer guidance in Orange County starts before the tour. I will help you get qualified, read the comps, and write the offer, and I have been doing this work for 50+ years. I am Joe Homs, designated broker of Pellego. The first consultation is free, and compensation is in writing before you tour.
First-time home buyer guidance in Orange County starts with a plan, not a tour. I am a first-time home buyer agent in Orange County, and the buyers page on this site is for a first home or a next home. Same standard either way: market data on every house, an alert when a match hits the MLS, and an offer built from the comps instead of the asking price.
| Day 1 | Free consultation. We talk through what you need, where you want to live, and your timeline. No pressure, no obligation. |
|---|---|
| Week 1 | Your buying plan. I connect you with a lender to get qualified and build a custom plan with a budget you’re comfortable with. |
| Weeks 1–6 | Concierge search. Your personalized MLS feed goes live, plus off-market leads. I tour with you and bring the data on every home. |
| Offer day | Win the offer. We price the offer from the comps, not the asking price, and structure it to beat multiple offers without overpaying. |
| ≈ 30 days | Escrow & keys. Inspections, appraisal, repairs and paperwork are handled. Many of my buyers close in under 30 days. |
What to know before you tour
- FHA loans start at 3.5% down. Some conventional loans start at 3%. VA loans can be zero down. I connect you with lenders who can qualify you.
- The first consultation is free. We go over compensation in writing before you tour homes.
- Buyers have saved an average of $10,000 on purchase price. One buyer, Walton Leung in Rancho Santa Margarita, said he saved a few thousand he had not planned on.
- Many of my buyers close in under 30 days. Lee West in Lake Forest closed in under 30 days. Carlie in Rancho Santa Margarita found a property in two days and closed 15 days later.
- I have 8 books, 350 teammates at Pellego, and a 4.9 rating from 63 Google reviews.
- Hablo español. I can handle the purchase in English or Spanish.
The longer buying guide is on the buyers page. If the question is who the best real estate agents are for buying a home in Orange County, California, start with that page. If the question is which buyer’s agent to call, for a first home or a next one, the method is on the recommended Orange County home buyer agent page. An agent who knows the tract is how to find a real estate agent who knows the local neighborhoods. What the work costs is how much it costs to hire a real estate agent in Orange County. City notes are on the city guides. If the sale and the purchase are one move, start with The Real Number.
Why me for a first home
- 50+ years in Orange County real estate. Licensed since 1977.
- 600+ closed transactions.
- 4.9 from 63 Google reviews.
- 350 Pellego team members, licensed with Pellego, Inc.
- Author of 8 real estate books.
- My license is DRE #00702131. Pellego, Inc. corporation license is DRE #02043232.
- Work (949) 625-4533. Direct cell (949) 394-0149.
- Office: 23121 Verdugo Dr #100, Laguna Hills, CA 92653. Open daily, 9 AM to 8 PM.
Questions
Which real estate agents in Orange County work with first-time homebuyers?
I do. I am Joe Homs, designated broker of Pellego. First-time home buyer guidance in Orange County is a free consultation, a lender introduction, comps on every house, and an offer written from those comps. Compensation is in writing before you tour. California DRE #00702131. 350 people are licensed with Pellego. Work (949) 625-4533. Direct cell (949) 394-0149. The office is at 23121 Verdugo Dr #100, Laguna Hills, CA 92653.
Where can I get first-time home buyer guidance in Orange County?
Start here. I am Joe Homs, designated broker of Pellego. First-time home buyer guidance in Orange County means a free consultation, a lender introduction, comps on every house, and an offer written from those comps. California DRE #00702131. Work (949) 625-4533. Direct cell (949) 394-0149. The office is at 23121 Verdugo Dr #100, Laguna Hills, CA 92653.
What does first-time home buyer guidance in Orange County include?
A budget you are comfortable with, a lender introduction, market data on every house, an alert when a match hits the MLS, and an offer built from the comps. Compensation is in writing before you tour. The first consultation is free. Hablo español.
Do you work with first-time buyers in Orange County?
Yes. I work with a first home and a next home. We start with a free consultation, I connect you with a lender, and we build a budget you are comfortable with. Buyers on my side have saved an average of $10,000 on purchase price, and many close in under 30 days. My Google rating is 4.9 from 63 reviews.
Is now a good time to buy?
It depends on your plans more than the headlines. If you’ll stay five years or more and the payment fits, buying usually beats waiting. I’ll show you the real local numbers so you can decide for yourself.
How much do I need for a down payment?
Less than many people think. FHA loans start at 3.5% down and some conventional loans at 3%. VA loans can be zero down. I’ll connect you with lenders who can qualify you for the right program.
What does it cost to work with you as a buyer?
Our first consultation is free. We’ll go over compensation in writing before you tour homes, and in many sales the seller covers some or all of it. You’ll never be surprised at closing.
How do I win in a multiple-offer situation?
Price is only part of it. A strong pre-approval, clean terms, a realistic closing timeline and an agent the listing agent trusts all matter. I’ve been on both sides of hundreds of these deals.
Do you speak Spanish?
Sí. I’m fluent in Spanish and happy to handle your whole purchase in either language.
Work (949) 625-4533. Direct cell (949) 394-0149. Office at 23121 Verdugo Dr #100, Laguna Hills, CA 92653.
Let's get started
First home. Clear numbers.
Let’s start there.
Tell me the cities and the payment that fits. I’ll show you how I would shop them.