Buyer's Guide
Chapter 1 of 8
Start here: buying a home in Monterey County
Buying a home is a big decision anywhere. Buying one in Monterey County comes with a few extra things to know, like water rules on the Peninsula, city reports before closing, historic homes, and an insurance market that's changing fast.
This guide is meant to walk you through all of it, whether you've never bought a home before, you're new to the area, or both.
Who this guide is for
I wrote it for the people I meet at open houses every week:
- First-time buyers who want to understand how the process works before they start.
- People moving here from the Bay Area or somewhere else, who may have bought before but don't know the local rules.
- Locals who know the area but want a clear picture of what's involved.
If you already know how buying works in California, you can skip straight to the local chapters. If you're new to all of it, start at the beginning.
What's in the guide
Getting started
- Start here. You're reading it.
- The areas of Monterey County at a glance. A quick orientation to the different parts of the county and the lifestyles each one offers.
- How buying a home works, step by step. The whole process, from getting pre-approved to getting your keys.
Money
- Getting financed. Loan types, down payment help, and the mistakes that keep people from qualifying.
- What it really costs. Closing costs, property taxes, the supplemental tax bill, and the costs of owning.
What's different about buying here
- Water, permits, and local rules. Water limits, city reports, historic homes, trees, and rental rules.
- Insurance, fire, and flood. Why insurance is harder to get right now, fire zones, and flood history.
Making it happen
- Making an offer and closing. Deposits, contingencies, inspections, and closing day.
Where to start
- Never bought a home before? Read Chapters 3 and 4 first, then come back to the rest.
- New to the area? Start with Chapters 2, 6, and 7. Those are the parts that are different here.
- Ready to start looking? Talk to a lender first, as covered in Chapter 4, then read Chapter 8 before you write an offer.
- Short on time? Read Chapter 6. It covers the local rules that surprise people most.
A few things to keep in mind
Rules change. Water rules, insurance, and rental rules here are all in the middle of changing. Each chapter shows when it was last checked, and I update them as things change. For any specific home, always confirm with the city, county, or agency involved.
This isn't legal or financial advice. I'm a real estate agent, not a lawyer, lender, or insurance agent. This guide explains how things generally work. For your own situation, talk to the right professional.
Every home is different. Most of what's in this guide only matters if it touches the house you're buying or what you plan to do with it. You don't need to research everything for every home.
How I work with buyers
I'm a Realtor with the Monterey Peninsula Home Team at Keller Williams Coastal Estates, and I work with buyers all over Monterey County.
A few things I do with every client: we go through the contracts together page by page before anything gets signed, I give you an escrow timeline with every date on it, and I stay in close contact with your lender so you know when it's safe to move forward. I also work in both English and Spanish.
If you have questions about anything in this guide, or you're ready to start, reach out. I'm happy to help, even if you're just starting to think about it.
This guide is general information, not legal, financial, tax, or insurance advice. Rules and conditions change, and every property and transaction is different. Confirm the details for your situation with the appropriate professionals and agencies.