First Home - California

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Tune in to learn all about how to become licensed as a real estate salesperson or broker in California. We dive into the steps to earning your license, the benefits of becoming an agent, the various career opportunities available if you have a real estate license, and more! In this episode we chat with the California Department of Real Estate’s Assistant Commissioner of Licensing and discuss everythi...

Nos reunimos con el Departamento de Derechos Civiles de California (CRD, por sus siglas en inglés) durante el Mes Nacional de la Vivienda Justa para hablar sobre todo lo relacionado con la vivienda justa, en particular de lo importante que es que conozcas tus como consumidor de bienes inmuebles. Ya seas un posible comprador de vivienda o un inquilino que busca una propiedad para rentar, debes saber que tienes derecho a recibir un t...

In this episode, we sit down with California Civil Rights Department (CRD) during National Fair Housing Month to talk all things fair housing, in particular how important it is to know your rights as a consumer of real estate. Whether you’re a prospective homebuyer or tenant looking for a property to rent, know that you have the right to be treated fairly and just. And if you believe your fair housing civil rights have been violate...

Listen in to learn all about the California Department of Real Estate audits and how they protect consumers.

In this episode, listeners will learn about the DRE audit process, when and why the Department conducts audits, and some of the more interesting and common findings uncovered. Also discussed are consumer protection tips around working with real estate salespersons and brokers. Topics covered include:

• Overview of Depart...

Jueves, 2 de mayo de 2024

Fecha del episodio: jueves, 2 de mayo de 2024 

Únanse al Departamento de Bienes Raíces (DRE) de California para conocer una historia real sobre estafa y fraude inmobiliarios, así como consejos para la protección del consumidor. En este episodio: Tratos deshonestos, les contamos un caso lleno de engaño y malas acciones premeditadas que ocurrió en el sur de California en un periodo de dos años. Justo cuando ...

Episode Date: Friday, April 12, 2024 

Join us, the California Department of Real Estate, for a true story of real estate fraud and deception, along with consumer protection tips. In this episode, Dishonest Dealings, we take you through a case full of misrepresentation and calculated wrongdoings that took place in Southern California across two years. Just when prospective homebuyers thought their security earnest money deposits wer...

In this episode we talk about how escrow works. When you’ve made a final offer on a home and reached an agreement with the seller, you start the escrow process in which a neutral third party manages funds and assets, and ensures all conditions of the sale are met before the property changes hands.

Topics covered include:

• When escrow officially starts
• The mindset a first-time homebuyer should have during escrow
• Who is responsibl...

In this episode we talk about how home appraisals work. In California, real estate appraisers are regulated by the Bureau of Real Estate Appraisers (BREA), and today we’re joined by BREA’s Bureau Chief Angela Jemmott.

Topics covered include: • What an appraisal is, why it’s needed, and who pays for it • Whether homeowners can choose the appraiser • What an appraiser does during an appraisal • What an appraiser is looking for to de...

In this episode we talk about what’s likely the most complex and most important part of the homebuying process.

Topics covered include:

• The legal paperwork you’ll need to review and sign before buying a new home.
• The information that needs to be disclosed to you before a sale.
• The mindset a homebuyer should have when approaching disclosure documents.
• The different types of disclosures – such as the Real Estate Transfer Disclosu...

In this episode we talk about one of the most stressful and exciting parts of the homebuying process, making an offer on a home.

Topics covered include:

• The mindset a first-time homebuyer should have about making an offer
• What’s an earnest money deposit, how much should you put down for this type of deposit, and what are the advantages/disadvantages of putting down more or less than that amount?
• The advantage of not selling a h...

There are a lot of professionals who are going to be involved in your home purchase. But, none is going to be more important to you than the one we talk about in Episode #105. This episode covers how to find a real estate agent.

Topics covered include:

• The difference between a real estate agent and a realtor
• Typical responsibilities handled by a buyer’s real estate agent
• How a buyer’s real estate agent gets paid
• The types of re...

In Episode #104 we take a deep dive on all the assistance programs available to first-time homebuyers here in California. A representative from the California  Housing Finance Agency (CalHFA) joins us.

Topics covered include:

CalHFA Down Payment Assistance Programs

• MyHome Assistance Program
• California Dream for All Shared Appreciation Loan Program

Please note: On October 13, 2023, Eric Johnson from CalHFA released a video...

Episode #103 gives you a close-up look at how down payments work.

A National Association of Realtors survey in 2021 found that 29% of first-time homebuyers said the down payment was the most difficult step in the home buying process.

Topics covered include:

• Why your down payment is important to you
• Why it’s important to your bank
• Why it’s okay if you aren’t able to put down 20% as a down payment
• What are the rules for using a f...

We take a deep dive into home mortgages. This includes conventional, FHA and VA mortgages, as well as fixed-rate, adjustable-rate, and interest-only. We also discuss the difference between interest rate and annual percentage rate, pre-qualified and pre-approved, what's an amortization school, what's an impound account, how a mortgage buy down works, and what happens if your new home is appraised for less than the price you're payin...

There’s nothing more important when buying a home than money.

This episode focuses on helping you figure out how much home you can afford, and how to be comfortable with what you’re going to spend for your first home.

Our guest is Mike Shenkman, who has more than 20 years of experience in California's real estate industry. He's also a lecturer in the Urban Studies and Planning Department at UC San Diego.

More at: https://dre.ca.gov...

Whether you're a young professional looking to invest in your future, a couple ready to settle down and start a family, or someone starting a new chapter in your life, buying your first home is a significant milestone. It also can be an overwhelming and complex process.

That's why the California Department of Real Estate has created this podcast.. to provide you with knowledge and insights, so that you know what to expect during th...