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Everything You Need to Buy a Home in California

Straightforward guides on how flat fee buyer representation works, how your savings flow through escrow, what the 2024 NAR settlement means for you, and how to navigate a California purchase from pre-approval to closing.

Savings Fees Buying Financing Offers PDF Guides Cities Selling Investors & Flippers Glossary

Understanding Your Savings5 guides

Closing Cost Credit Explained

When a seller offers a buyer agent commission and you hire a flat fee agent, the difference comes back to you at closing. Learn exactly how it flows through escrow, what you can use it for, and how much you get at any price point.

Buyer Rebate Explained

What is a buyer rebate in California, is it legal, and how does it differ from a closing cost credit? Covers California law, lender rules, and how Roman structures your savings.

Flat Fee vs. Traditional Agent

Full side-by-side comparison: cost at every price point, service differences, the incentive misalignment in percentage commissions, and what actually changes when you hire a flat fee agent.

Buyer Agent Rebate vs. Lower Home Price

A closing cost credit and a price reduction are not the same thing. The property tax basis, LTV, and net-savings math that decides which one actually leaves you better off.

FSBO vs. Flat Fee Agent

Selling FSBO saves on commission but costs you MLS reach and negotiation leverage. An interactive calculator compares FSBO, traditional and flat fee costs side by side.

Commission & Fees Explained6 guides

How Much Does a Realtor Cost in California?

Average total commission runs 4.6% to 5.5% of the sale price in 2026. Real dollar figures at common price points, and why there is no legal standard rate.

How Much Does a Buyer's Agent Cost?

Buyer's agent commission averages about 2.77% in 2026 -- but since AB 2992 you sign a written agreement specifying the fee before touring homes. What that means for you.

How Much Does a Listing Agent Cost?

California listing agents charge about 2.7% on average in 2026 -- roughly $22,400 on the median home. What that fee covers, and where a flat fee changes the math.

Real Estate Commission in California, Explained

Who pays, how the split works between listing and buyer's agents, and what actually changed under AB 2992 -- the full mechanics in one place.

Who Pays Realtor Fees When Buying a House?

In California, sellers still usually cover both agents -- but since AB 2992 it is negotiated, not automatic. What buyers actually need to know.

Are Realtor Fees Negotiable in California?

Yes -- realtor fees have always been negotiable in California, and no law sets a rate. How to actually negotiate one.

Buying a Home in California7 guides

How to Buy a Home in Los Angeles

Step-by-step walkthrough of the LA home buying process -- from pre-approval and offer strategy to inspection, escrow, and closing. Written for first-time and move-up buyers in the LA market.

2024 NAR Settlement Guide

The National Association of Realtors settlement changed how buyer agent compensation works. What changed, what you now have to sign before touring homes, and why it actually benefits buyers.

Mortgage & Financing Basics

Pre-approval vs. pre-qualification, conventional vs. FHA vs. VA loans, how your debt-to-income ratio affects what you can borrow, and what lenders look at in California jumbo loan markets.

New Construction Buying Tips

Builder contracts are not the same as standard California RPA contracts. What to watch for, how to negotiate upgrades and closing costs with a builder, and why you need your own agent at a new construction site.

How to Buy a House in California: Step-by-Step

The full California buying process in 2026 -- pre-approval, the AB 2992 representation agreement, offer, escrow, and closing, in order.

California Real Estate Disclosures Explained

California has the strictest seller disclosure rules in the country. The TDS, NHD, and every other required disclosure, explained plainly.

What Happens After an Offer Is Accepted?

Escrow in California runs 30 to 45 days from accepted offer to recorded close. The full day-by-day timeline of what happens and when.

Affordability & Financing3 guides

How Much House Can I Afford in California?

California's median home is about $828,000 but median household income is $91,905. What that gap actually means for your budget, with a calculator.

How Much Down Payment Do I Need?

As little as 0% with VA, 3% conventional, or 3.5% FHA -- but California's average is 22%, the highest in the country. Why, and what fits your situation.

How Much Money Do I Need to Buy a House?

Down payment is only part of it. The full cash-to-close breakdown for California in 2026 -- closing costs, reserves, and everything else.

Making an Offer2 guides

How Much Should I Offer on a House?

Days on market, closed comps, and your specific submarket decide the number -- not a rule of thumb. How to actually land on an offer price.

How to Make an Offer on a House in California

How to write a California offer that wins in 2026 -- the RPA terms that matter, and how to compete without overpaying.

Free PDF Guides4 guides

LA Homebuyer’s Rebate Guide

The complete guide to buying a home in LA with a flat fee agent. How the closing cost credit works, savings at every price point, and what to expect from first showing to closing day. Free download.

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Buying a Home in LA

A complete market-specific guide to purchasing in Los Angeles -- neighborhoods, price tiers, school districts, and how to compete in one of the most competitive real estate markets in the country.

New Construction Guide

Everything buyers need to know about purchasing new construction in LA and OC -- builder contracts, Mello-Roos, phase pricing, upgrade negotiations, and how flat fee representation works with builders.

Seller’s Guide

Selling your current home while buying? This guide covers how to navigate the simultaneous buy-sell process, timing contingencies, and how to use your equity most effectively in the next purchase.

Buying in a Specific City

Roman serves all of Los Angeles County, Orange County, Ventura County, and San Bernardino County. Each city page includes current 2026 market data, school ratings, hazard risks, neighborhood guides, and your exact savings at that city’s median price.

Los Angeles Cities → Orange County Cities → Ventura County Cities → San Bernardino County Cities →

Selling a Home in California4 guides

What It Costs to Sell in LA

A real breakdown of what it costs to sell a house in Los Angeles -- commissions, transfer tax, escrow fees, and how a flat fee listing agent changes the math versus a traditional agent.

Flat Fee MLS vs. Full Service

Flat fee MLS and full service flat fee listing agents are not the same product. Here is the real difference in price and what you actually get with each.

Do You Have to Pay Buyer Agent Commission?

Since the 2024 NAR settlement, sellers are no longer required to offer buyer agent commission. What actually changed, and how to think about it in 2026.

Proposition 19: Transfer Your Property Tax Base After 55

California Prop 19 lets homeowners 55+ transfer their low property tax base to a new home anywhere in the state. How the BOE-19-B filing works.

Investor & Flipper Resources20 guides

Buying to flip or hold as a rental changes the math -- deal volume, financing structure, and margin all matter more than they do for an owner-occupant. Roman's flat $7,250 / $9,250 buyer's agent fee stays fixed no matter the price or how many deals you close a year, on both the buy and sell side.

Flat Fee vs. Commission for Real Estate Investors

A worked comparison of flat fee vs. percentage buyer-agent commission for investors and flippers doing multiple deals a year in Southern California.

How Much Should You Pay for a House to Flip?

The maximum allowable offer (MAO) formula for house flippers, why the 70% rule isn't universal, with an interactive calculator across price tiers.

What Is the 70% Rule in House Flipping?

The 70% rule caps your maximum offer at 70% of ARV minus repair costs. The formula, why 70% isn't fixed across price tiers, and where the rule breaks down.

What Is ARV in Real Estate?

ARV, or after-repair value, is the number every flip decision depends on. How it's calculated, common mistakes, and why it drives your maximum offer.

How to Calculate the Profit on a House Flip

The full formula for calculating house flip profit -- ARV, purchase, rehab, holding, financing and selling costs -- with an interactive calculator.

How Much Does It Cost to Flip a House in California?

A full breakdown of what it actually costs to flip a house in California -- purchase, rehab, holding, agent fees and selling costs -- with a worked example.

How Much Does a Realtor Cost When Flipping a House?

What agents actually charge flippers on both the buy side and sell side, how that compares to a flat fee, and how the gap compounds across deals.

Should You Use a Realtor When Buying a House to Flip?

Yes, if the realtor doesn't cost you anything extra. A flat fee buyer's agent gives you MLS access, off-market leads, and comps without cutting into margin.

How to Find Houses to Flip in California

Eight sources of flip inventory in California, ranked by competition -- from MLS and pre-foreclosure to probate, off-market, and agent-fed deal flow.

Buyer's Agent for Off-Market & Wholesale Deals

Flat fee buyer representation for off-market, wholesale, and direct-to-seller deals -- fast closes, proof-of-funds ready, flat $7,250-$9,250 regardless of price.

Probate & Trustee Sale Buyer's Agent

Flat fee buyer representation for probate and trustee (foreclosure auction) sales -- proof-of-funds ready, comfortable with as-is, condition-unknown purchases.

1031 Exchange + Flat Fee Buyer's Agent

How a flat fee buyer's agent fits a 1031 exchange timeline, keeping buy-side costs fixed while you race the 45-day ID and 180-day closing deadlines.

Hard Money vs. Conventional Loan for House Flipping

Hard money closes fast and lends on ARV, but costs more. An interactive calculator compares hard money and conventional financing costs for your deal.

Fix and Flip Financing in California

Hard money, private money, HELOCs, and cash are the main ways to finance a California flip. How each works, what lenders want, and how to line it up.

How Long Does a House Flip Take?

A typical California flip runs 4-7 months start to finish: acquisition, rehab, and resale. The real timeline breakdown and what actually causes delays.

California House Flipping Taxes and Costs

Flip profit is generally ordinary income, not a capital gain, plus California adds franchise and transfer tax layers. What applies and what to ask a CPA.

What Are the Costs of Selling a Flipped House?

Every cost that comes out of the sale price when you resell a flip, with an interactive calculator for agent fees, transfer tax, escrow, staging and net proceeds.

Do You Need a Realtor to Sell a Flipped House?

You can sell a flip FSBO, but a flat fee listing agent gets it on the MLS, in front of every buyer's agent in the area, for the same flat cost.

Flat Fee Listing Agent for House Flippers

List your flip with a flat fee listing agent instead of a 2.5-3% commission. ARV-driven pricing and fast relist in LA, Orange, Ventura & San Bernardino counties.

Flat Fee Buyer's Agent for San Bernardino Flips

San Bernardino County has strong price-to-rehab ratios for flips. A flat $7,250-$9,250 buyer's agent fee keeps more of every deal for investors buying here.

Look Up a Term48 terms

Real Estate Glossary

Plain-English definitions for the terms that come up during a California purchase or sale -- flat fee and commission terms, escrow and contract terms, financing, offers, taxes, and loan structure. 48 terms, each with a worked example.

Browse the glossary →