Those of us who have lived in the Tri-Valley for a long time have seen many changes. As a Realtor I find that many home buyers jump into the home buying process without fully considering all of the opportunities and challenges here in the Tri-Valley.

1. Look to the future.

Which areas will best meet the needs for your family 5 years from now? Where will you work? Buying a home close to your current job may seem like a good idea. The shorter commute and more time with family make a lot of sense. The problem is that the job market is very unpredictable, and people frequently get moved around by their employers. When I was a kid, scientists, engineers, and computer experts moved from all over the country to Livermore for a career at Lawrence Livermore National Lab (back then we called it the “Rad Lab“). A career at the Lab was a safe choice, because many people like my father worked there for 30+ years until retirement. Those days are over.

One of my recent clients has a good job at Safeway corporate headquarters in Pleasanton. Over the years, Safeway moved him from Pleasanton to Concord and then back to Pleasanton. To choose the perfect location for his family, we reviewed traffic patterns along 580 and 680. We also looked at other Bay Area companies in his current field. We ultimately focused on a location that optimized the various factors under consideration and that gives him the most flexibility going forward.

2. Know what you can afford and what you need.

Before you get too involved looking at homes, work with a loan professional to find out what you can afford realistically. Do not waste time with a call center loan sales agent at this stage. Shop for rates later. You need someone who is nearby, can personally answer phone calls, and wants to work with you even before you make the decision to buy. Good loan brokers will work hard to verify your information and ask you to provide full documentation for everything.

A 3-bedroom home in the Tri-Valley can range from $250,000 and well into the millions. The right loan professional will help you understand what you can spend on a home, but only you can decide how much you should spend. Do not just take the number from the loan agent and start looking. Think deep and hard about the implications of that number and use it as a maximum cutoff in your search.

3. Consider future school needs and opportunities.

The quality of the school district is a huge consideration for many buyers in the Tri-Valley. Even if you do not have kids, schools can have a significant impact on home prices and tax liabilities. Property tax assessments often come in the forms of mello roos and parcel taxes. Do not fall into the trap of picking an area based on the current schools. Parents who bought homes in Dublin near Nielsen Elementary, so they could walk the kids to school were not happy when Dublin Unified School District closed the school. Many families have also bought homes across the street from one school but ended up sending their children to another, because the one they live across from is already at capacity. A good real estate agent can help you avoid these situations by making sure you talk to the right person at the District office.

4. Spend the time to explore the many lifestyle choices in the Tri-Valley and the East Bay.

We are fortunate to have a huge range of lifestyle choices in the Tri-Valley and the East Bay. Home buyers can choose from true urban living in Downtown Walnut Creek, a country home with a staple in Livermore, or a cozy townhome in the centrally located Dublin. Spend as much time as possible in the areas you are considering. Do a mock commute during rush hours. As you consider your options, remember that details like your daily commute will have a tremendous impact on your quality of life. Quality of life is not just measured by the size of your home.

5. Know what you are signing.

Signing a real estate contract is a serious, long-term commitment. Do not sign anything unless you completely understand what it is and how it can affect you in the short-term and the long-term. Every part of the contract is there for a reason. Each choice you make comes with its own set of legal and tax implications. Ask lots of questions and always evaluate the answers critically.