Buying in the East Bay
Know exactly what you are buying, before you write the offer.
Danville, Alamo, Blackhawk, Walnut Creek and San Ramon move fast, and the disclosure package is where the real story lives. My job is to read it properly, tell you what it means, and then go win the house at a price that makes sense.
or give me a call at (925) 917-3970
What you get working with me
Buy with clarity and confidence
Your home search deserves thoughtful preparation and personal attention. I help you understand the details, weigh your options, and negotiate with confidence, from the first showing to the day you get your keys.
Disclosures made clear
I go through every disclosure and inspection report with you in plain English, flag anything that deserves a second look, and bring in a specialist when a question needs one.
Negotiation
I am a Certified Real Estate Negotiator. I build your offer around the property, the competition and your priorities, then hold that line through price, terms and repairs.
Personal service
You work with me, not a handoff. I stay in the details, answer the phone, and make sure you always know where your purchase stands and what comes next.
Brand and connections
Coldwell Banker Realty puts national reach and real resources behind your purchase. My local lenders, inspectors and contractors get you straight answers.
How it works
Nine steps from first conversation to keys
This is the actual sequence, not a brochure version of it. If you want to skip ahead to any part of it, call me and we will start there.
The first conversation
Twenty minutes, no pressure, usually on the phone. What you are looking for, where, what your timeline actually is, and whether now is even the right moment. Sometimes the honest answer is to wait, and I will tell you that.
Get your financing straight
Before we tour anything. A real pre-approval, not a pre-qualification, from a lender who answers on weekends. In this market an offer without solid financing behind it does not get read twice.
Build your search
I set you up on a private search that pulls straight from the MLS, tuned to your areas, price and must-haves. New listings reach you the moment they go live, not after they show up on a portal.
Set up in about five minutesTouring, and what I am looking at
You are looking at the kitchen. I am looking at the roofline, the grading, the panel, the crawl space access and what the neighbors did to their yard. I will tell you what I see, including when I think you should walk.
Reading the disclosure package
This is where I earn it. Seller disclosures, the preliminary title report, the natural hazard report, HOA documents, past inspections. You get a written brief on the material issues, the likely cost, and what is worth negotiating versus what is normal for a house of that age in that area.
You get this in writingWriting an offer that gets picked
Price is one of maybe six things a listing agent weighs. Contingency structure, deposit, close timeline, loan type, the cover letter and who your lender is all move the needle. I call the listing agent before we write, every time, and find out what the seller actually wants.
Inspections, repairs and the request
If we did not go in with inspections waived, this is where the contractor network matters. Real numbers on real work, so a repair request is a documented ask instead of a wish, and you keep leverage instead of spending it.
Escrow, appraisal and the loan
The unglamorous four weeks where deals actually die. I stay on the lender, the appraiser and the title company so you are not the one chasing anybody, and you hear from me before you have to wonder.
Keys, and then afterward
Recording, keys, and a handoff list of the contractors, the utility accounts and the paperwork you will want at tax time. I am still your agent after closing, and most of my business comes from people who found that out.
The thing nobody else sends you
A written brief before you walk in the door
Always pull the disclosures before you tour, not after. If a house is worth driving to, it is worth five minutes of reading first. You get a brief from me that says what is actually in that package, in plain English.
Two minutes can change your mind. A roof at the end of its life, a foundation issue that dropped the house out of escrow once already, a death on the property. Any one of those is worth knowing before you spend a Saturday on it.
Touring first and reading later is one of the most common unrepresented and first-time buyer mistakes. It costs you a second trip, or a first one you never needed to make.
What the brief covers
- 01Material defects, ranked by what they will actually cost you
- 02Natural hazard exposure: fire, flood, seismic, and what it does to your insurance
- 03Title items, easements and anything recorded against the property
- 04HOA finances, reserves, pending assessments and rules that will surprise you
- 05Permit history, and what was done to this house without one
- 06What is worth negotiating, and what is just normal for the age and area
Where I work
The areas I know street by street
Live inventory, recent sales and what it is actually like to live there.
Straight answers
Questions buyers actually ask me
How much do I need for a down payment around here?
Less than most people think. Conventional loans can start at 3% down, while FHA loans can start at 3.5%, and California offers programs that may help qualified first-time buyers.
In Danville and Alamo, though, the bigger challenge often is not the down payment, it is making your offer competitive. When you are up against cash buyers or buyers putting substantially more down, we focus on structuring the rest of your offer to make it as strong and attractive to the seller as possible.
Do I pay you, and how does that work now?
We agree it in writing before we submit an offer, and I walk you through it line by line. In most East Bay transactions the seller is still offering compensation to the buyer's side, and where they are not, we address it in the offer. You will know the number before it matters, not at closing.
Should I waive inspections to win the house?
Sometimes, and it depends entirely on what the disclosure package says. That is exactly why I read it properly first. Waiving with a full picture is a calculated risk. Waiving blind is gambling with the largest purchase you will ever make, and I will tell you plainly which one you are doing.
How many homes will I see before I find one?
Fewer than you expect if we do step three properly. Most of the filtering should happen before you spend a Saturday driving. When the search is tuned right, touring is confirming a decision rather than browsing.
Is now a bad time to buy?
It depends on how long you plan to stay and what your alternative is. I will run your actual numbers against renting the same house and show you where the line is. If the answer is wait six months, that is what I will tell you, and I will keep you posted until it changes.
What if I am also selling?
Then the order of operations is the whole game, and it is worth a conversation on its own. There are several ways to bridge the two, including options that let you buy before you sell. Which one fits depends on your equity and your risk tolerance.
What clients say
Five reviews, every one of them five stars
Verified on Google and Zillow. Read them there if you would rather see them at the source.
"Chris helped us find our first home! After trying and trying and trying we found Chris and he helped us right away!! We couldn't thank him enough and appreciate all the help from him and everyone involved to get our place we can now call home!! Thank you Chris!!!"
"Chris was very patient with me as I took a long time to find a home. He remained positive when I couldn't find any homes I liked and was always available right away when I wanted to check out a home."
"Chris Lee Luna was a pleasure to work with and did an outstanding job throughout the home-buying process. In a competitive real estate market, finding an affordable, move-in-ready property can be challenging. After months of searching, once the right home was identified, Chris quickly arranged a same-day tour."Read the full review
"His communication was clear and consistent, always provides updates, responds promptly to calls and messages, and ensured that all documents were reviewed and signed in a timely manner. He offered valuable insight and guidance from the initial steps all the way through to closing.
Chris established a strong, professional connection with the seller's agent, which helped facilitate smooth and respectful communication throughout the transaction. His ability to build rapport played a key role in moving things forward quickly and efficiently.
He also coordinated with contractors and estimators for any requested updates and followed through on every detail. He was present for inspections, appraisals, and final walkthroughs, ensuring nothing was overlooked.
His professionalism, experience, and commitment made a complex process smooth and successful. Highly recommended for anyone looking to buy or sell a home."
"I enjoyed working with Chris as he represented his buyer. He is very professional, friendly, with clear communications. He even drove his client multiple times from BART station to the property to meet the needs of his client. I would highly recommend Chris to anyone who is looking for a reliable, friendly buyer agent!"
New listings, the day they reach the MLSYour private MLS search
See it the day it lists, not the week after
Tell me the areas and the price range and I will set up a search that pulls straight from the MLS. New matches reach you the moment they go live, and you can save favorites and compare them side by side.
- New listings the day they hit the market
- Filter by city, neighborhood, price, beds and baths
- Save favorites and compare them side by side
- Coming soon and off market homes as I hear about them
Ready when you are
Let's figure out what you are actually looking for
Whether you are touring this weekend or still six months out, twenty minutes on the phone is the fastest way to know your next move.
or give me a call at (925) 917-3970
Your Partner in Real Estate.
- (925) 917-3970
- chris@chrisleeluna.com
- 101 Sycamore Valley Rd West
Danville, CA 94526
Danville / Blackhawk Office
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Let’s Talk
Thinking about a move in the East Bay? Grab a time that works for you and let’s talk it through.
Book an Appointment Call (925) 917-3970Coldwell Banker - Danville
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