Anna Aljabiry Real Estate

THE ANNA ALJABIRY HOME BUYER’S GUIDE

Buy a home in Davis with confidence.

From your first pre-approval conversation to the moment the keys land in your hand, this is the complete ten-step road map Anna uses with every buyer. Local market expertise, transparent negotiation, and an obsession with the details that make a Davis home truly yours.

Schedule a Buyer ConsultationSee the 10-step Road Map

A QUICK NOTE ON

Why Davis

Davis is a small town with a research university woven into it. Bike lanes wider than the car lanes. A farmers’ market on every Saturday morning. Schools that punch above their weight, and neighborhoods quiet enough to hear the cicadas in summer.

Buying a home here is not just a real-estate decision; it is choosing a way of living. Anna lives here, raises a family here, and walks every neighborhood on this page personally before sending a client into it.

  • 13Years in Davis
  • 280+Families served
  • 100%5-star reviews
A tree-lined Davis residential street
The UC Davis campus on a sunlit morning
Downtown Davis storefronts
A classic Davis family home

THE HOME BUYER’S

Road Map

Ten clear milestones from your first conversation to closing day. Anna walks every step alongside you so you always know what happens next and what is expected from your side.

01

Find the right agent

  • Experience, knowledge, and strong communication
  • Deep understanding of the Davis market
  • Personalized guidance tailored to you
02

Prepare your finances

  • Check (and improve) your credit score
  • Save cash for the down payment & closing
  • Know how much house you can afford
03

Get pre-approved

  • Documented income, assets, and credit review
  • Choose the right loan type for your situation
  • Receive a written pre-approval letter
04

Start home shopping

  • Tour homes in your price range
  • Evaluate neighborhoods and surroundings
  • Test plumbing, electrical, doors, and windows
05

Make an offer

  • Review recent sales and current buyer activity
  • Earnest deposit signals you mean business
  • Negotiate inspection windows and closing dates
06

Order an inspection

  • Licensed inspector walks the entire home
  • Detailed report of issues large and small
  • Decide what to accept and what to negotiate
07

Negotiate the final offer

  • Ask for credits where work is needed
  • Keep your poker face during walkthroughs
  • Think big picture, not every leaky faucet
08

Appraisal ordered

  • Independent valuation by the lender
  • Title search confirms a clean transfer
  • Homeowner's insurance secured before close
09

Schedule the move

  • Movers, packing, and address changes
  • Utility transfers timed to closing day
  • Final walkthrough scheduled before signing
10

Closing day

  • Sign ownership and insurance paperwork
  • Closing disclosure reviewed three days ahead
  • Receive your keys & celebrate — you’re home

EVERY STEP, IN DETAIL

The Process

Each milestone of the buyer’s road map, broken down into the real-world conversations, paperwork, and decisions that actually move a deal forward in Davis.

A real estate agent reviewing home plans with a buyer
STEP ONE

STEP ONE

Finding the right agent

Finding the right buyer’s agent is crucial to a smooth and successful home-buying experience. Look for someone with deep local-market knowledge, strong communication, and the professional demeanor that keeps the entire team confident through every twist of a transaction.

The right agent provides personalized guidance tailored to your goals, manages every document and deadline with precision, and represents your financial interests from the first showing through to closing. With Anna in your corner, you can find the home of your dreams with confidence and ease.

Your checklist

  • Deep, street-by-street Davis knowledge
  • Skilled communicator who returns calls fast
  • Detail-oriented with paperwork and deadlines
  • Negotiator who advocates for your bottom line
  • Trusted network of inspectors, lenders, and vendors
Calculator, ledger, and financial papers on a desk
STEP TWO

STEP TWO

Prepare your finances

Mortgage lenders generally recommend buying a home no more than three to five times your annual household income. Unless you’re paying cash, you’ll need a pre-approval, which begins with a clear picture of your credit, income, and savings.

Anna will help you think through both monthly comfort and long-term flexibility, so the home you fall in love with is also a home you genuinely enjoy living in.

  • Improve your credit score

    Pay down balances, continue making payments on time, and avoid opening new credit accounts before closing.

  • Save for cash needs

    Down payment (3.5% to 20%), earnest money deposit, closing costs (2% to 5% of the loan), and inspection ($450 to $750).

  • Hold steady

    Skip the new car loan, the big-ticket furniture purchase, or the job change until after you’ve been approved.

A buyer signing mortgage paperwork at a desk
STEP THREE

STEP THREE

Get pre-approved

Pre-approved is different from pre-qualified. Pre-approval means a lender has actually reviewed your documented income, assets, debts, and credit reports, and committed to a specific loan amount in writing.

Sellers take pre-approved offers more seriously, and you’ll know exactly which homes are within your real-world budget before you start touring. We’ll dig into loan types together in the comparison below.

Your checklist

  • Last two years of W-2s
  • Past three months of pay stubs
  • Past three months of bank statements
  • Previous two years of tax returns
  • List of your debts and assets
  • Divorce decree or additional-income documentation, if applicable
A modern Davis-style family home with afternoon light
STEP FOUR

STEP FOUR

Start home shopping

Now the fun begins. We’ll tour homes in your price range, take photos and notes, and compare each property against the picture of your ideal home we built together. It can be hard to remember which kitchen was which by the third Saturday, so we capture every detail in writing.

When we find the house, Anna presents a strategic offer based on recent sales, current buyer activity in the area, and the property’s condition. Negotiations often follow the first offer; we’ll be prepared.

  • Test every working part

    Plumbing, electrical, doors, windows. Anna confirms what you’re really buying, not just the staging.

  • Look beyond the lot lines

    Are the surrounding homes well maintained? How is the traffic? How close are schools, parks, and shopping?

A for-sale sign in front of a charming Davis-area home
STEP FIVE

STEP FIVE

Make an offer

You found the house. Congratulations! In a market where demand outruns supply, acting fast and acting smart both matter.

We’ll review recent sales, current buyer activity in the neighborhood, and the property’s present condition. Then we put it all together to write the strongest offer you can submit without overpaying for the home.

  • Healthy earnest deposit

    A larger good-faith deposit signals you’re serious. It comes off the purchase price at closing.

  • Cash talks

    Offers without a loan contingency are more attractive. If financing is part of your plan, we’ll show strength elsewhere.

  • Write the seller a letter

    We’ll help you write a sincere note explaining why this home is the one. It often tips a close decision.

  • Tighten the timeline

    Shorter inspection windows (around 10 days) and a 30-day close make your offer easier to say yes to.

A home inspector with a clipboard checking a house
STEP SIX

STEP SIX

Order an inspection

During the inspection period, Anna schedules a licensed home inspector for a thorough top-to-bottom review of the home. Once complete, the inspector delivers a detailed written report.

You can take the issues as-is or request that the seller address some or all of them. We stay mindful and reasonable on smaller items while being especially cautious and vigilant on anything significant.

Two people negotiating at a table with paperwork
STEP SEVEN

STEP SEVEN

Negotiate the final offer

Issues almost always surface during the home inspection, and they tend to spark another round of negotiations for credits or fixes. Anna keeps you focused on the items that matter most.

  • Ask for credit, not repairs

    Most sellers would rather give a credit at closing than coordinate the work themselves. Credits also help offset closing costs.

  • Think big picture

    A tile that needs caulk or a leaky faucet is easy to fix. Save your negotiating capital for items that genuinely affect value or safety.

  • Keep your poker face

    The listing agent is present during inspections. Revealing how much you love the home can come back to haunt you in later discussions.

A clipboard with mortgage and appraisal paperwork
STEP EIGHT

STEP EIGHT

Appraisal ordered

Your lender arranges a third-party appraiser to provide an independent estimate of the home’s value. The appraisal confirms to every party that the agreed price is fair before lender funds move.

The loan file then advances to underwriting. Once underwriting approves, you receive your final commitment letter that locks in your loan terms and percentage rate.

  • Property title search

    Confirms the seller truly owns the home and that any existing liens, loans, or judgments are disclosed and cleared.

  • Homeowner’s insurance

    Required before closing. Protects against fire, storms, and flooding from the day you take ownership.

Moving boxes stacked in a new home's entryway
STEP NINE

STEP NINE

Schedule the move

With acceptance secured and your loan underway, the next focus is logistics. The move itself can be the most stressful part of buying a home, which is why we map every week in advance.

Down below you’ll find the four-week countdown Anna shares with every client, so you can keep packing, paperwork, and address changes all moving in parallel.

A real estate agent handing house keys to new homeowners
STEP TEN

STEP TEN

Closing day

Closing is when you sign ownership and insurance paperwork and receive your new home’s keys. Closing typically takes four to six weeks from acceptance.

By federal law, lenders must provide the closing disclosure at least three days before closing so you have time to review the final loan terms and closing costs. If anything looks off compared to the loan estimate, we flag it immediately with the lender and title company.

  • The closing table

    You, Anna, your loan officer, the seller, the seller’s agent, a title company representative, and any attorneys involved sign together.

  • Closing costs

    Generally 3% to 4% of the home’s purchase price. Sometimes shared with the seller depending on your negotiated agreement.

  • Bring to closing

    Government-issued photo ID, copy of the sales contract, homeowner’s insurance certificate, and proof of funds.

  • Final walkthrough

    Within 24 hours of closing, we walk the home one more time to confirm appliances, plumbing, garage doors, toilets, and disposal all work and any agreed repairs are complete.

TYPES OF

Mortgage Loans

Each loan program has its own credit, income, and down-payment rules. Use this comparison to ask sharper questions of your lender. Anna can also recommend trusted Davis-area mortgage brokers if you don’t already have one.

  • VA

    Department of Veteran Affairs

    Veterans, active personnel with honorable discharge, reservists, National Guard, surviving spouses.

    Down payment
    None
    Credit score
    580+
    Upfront ins.
    None
    Monthly ins.
    None

  • USDA

    Department of Agriculture

    Buyers in a USDA-designated rural area who meet program limits.

    Down payment
    None
    Credit score
    640+
    Upfront ins.
    2% of loan amount, rollable
    Monthly ins.
    Required

  • FHA

    Federal Housing Administration

    Anyone who meets minimum credit and income levels.

    Down payment
    3.5% of purchase price
    Credit score
    580 to 640
    Upfront ins.
    1.75% of loan amount
    Monthly ins.
    Required

  • 203K

    Federal Housing Administration

    Buyers purchasing a fixer-upper or renovating their home who meet credit & income requirements.

    Down payment
    3.5% of purchase price
    Credit score
    580 to 640
    Upfront ins.
    1.75% of loan amount
    Monthly ins.
    Required

  • Conventional 97

    First-time buyer programs

    First-time home buyers (no ownership in the last three years) who put 3% down via the Conventional 97 program.

    Down payment
    3% of purchase price
    Credit score
    620+
    Upfront ins.
    None
    Monthly ins.
    Required

  • Conventional

    Conventional loan

    Borrowers who meet lender credit, income, and debt-level requirements. Typical down payment 5% to 20%.

    Down payment
    3% to 20% of purchase price
    Credit score
    620+
    Upfront ins.
    None
    Monthly ins.
    Depends on down payment

  • Select Smart Plus

    Portfolio product

    Borrowers who meet lender credit, income, and debt-level requirements. Typically 5% to 20% down.

    Down payment
    3% to 20% of purchase price
    Credit score
    620+
    Upfront ins.
    None
    Monthly ins.
    Required

Programs and minimums change. Always confirm current requirements directly with your lender. Anna keeps an updated short list of Davis-area mortgage professionals she trusts to be straight with her clients.

WHAT THE LENDER WILL ASK FOR

Income & Documents

Gather these before your pre-approval appointment and the process will move in days instead of weeks. Anna and your lender will let you know if anything additional is needed for your specific situation.

Qualifying income

  • W-2 income or salary
  • Income from part-time jobs
  • Income from a second job
  • Overtime and bonuses
  • Seasonal jobs
  • Self-employed income
  • Alimony and child support (documentation required)

Non-qualifying income

Lenders generally exclude these from the calculation

  • Lottery winnings
  • Gambling income
  • Unemployment pay
  • One-time bonuses
  • Non-occupying co-signer income
  • Unverifiable income
  • Income from rental properties

Documents to gather

  • W-2s from the past 2 years
  • 3 months of pay stubs
  • Bank statements from the past 3 months
  • Previous 2 years of tax returns
  • Complete list of debts and assets
  • Divorce decree, if applicable
  • Additional income documentation

SCHEDULING YOUR

Move-in Countdown

A four-week countdown of the calls, paperwork, and packing that make closing day feel like a celebration instead of a scramble.

04
WeeksOut

Lock in the basics

The packing problem is real. Take care of the things only you can do, and outsource everything else.

  • Give 30 days notice if you’re currently renting
  • Schedule movers or a moving truck
  • Buy or source packing materials
  • Start packing room by room
  • Get estimates from moving companies
03
WeeksOut

Wrap the paperwork

Loan items, the title search, and the appraisal all converge in this window. Your job is to keep responding quickly.

  • Arrange the appraisal
  • Complete the title search (handled by the title company)
  • Confirm any outstanding lender items
  • Start medical records and important-document gathering
02
WeeksOut

Switch the services

Time to set up everything you’ll need on day one in the new home, and shut down everything you no longer need.

  • Get quotes for homeowner’s insurance
  • Schedule the closing time
  • Contact utility companies (water, electric, cable)
  • Change address: mail, subscriptions, deliveries
  • Secure a home warranty
  • Minimize grocery shopping and keep packing
01
WeekOut

Move week

The final stretch. Cash, keys, walkthrough, deliveries. Anna stays on call so nothing falls through the cracks.

  • Obtain certified checks for closing
  • Schedule and attend the final walkthrough
  • Pack essentials for a few nights in the new home
  • Confirm the delivery date with the moving company
Anna Aljabiry, Davis CA buyer's real estate agent
280+Davis families
served & counting

NICE TO MEET YOU

Hello, I’m Anna

As a real estate agent, I am passionate about helping my clients find their dream homes. With extensive knowledge of the Davis market and a dedication to understanding each buyer’s unique needs, I am committed to finding the perfect property for every family I work with.

I pride myself on exceptional customer service, guiding clients through the entire buying process with honesty, transparency, and open communication. With my expertise and personalized approach, I am confident I can help you achieve your real estate goals.

530.400.0496contact@LivingInDavisCalifornia.com

What you can count on from me

On your side

Dedicated to representing your best interests from property search through negotiation and closing.

Staying on top of paperwork

Highly organized and detail-oriented, managing every document and deadline with precision.

A neighborhood expert

Deep knowledge of Davis schools, amenities, and property values across every neighborhood in town.

A creative problem solver

Skilled at anticipating challenges and finding creative solutions so the deal stays moving forward.

SERVICES OFFERED

How Anna helps buyers

Dedicated real-estate services for Davis homebuyers — from identifying your dream home to closing the deal — tailored to your timeline, budget, and the neighborhoods you have your eye on.

Personalized property search

A tailored search calibrated to your priorities — location, size, amenities, schools, and the intangibles that make a home feel right. Anna handles the daily MLS combing so you only see homes worth your weekend.

Expert market analysis

Comprehensive market insights — property values, pricing trends, neighborhood comps, and negotiation strategy — so every offer is informed and every concession is intentional.

Seamless transaction support

Every step beyond the offer — inspections, appraisal, paperwork, contingency releases, and closing — managed with a steady hand so your buying journey is the milestone it should be, not a job on top of your job.

A Davis homebuyer reviewing details with their real estate agent

THE BUYER’S ADVANTAGE

Why you need a buyer’s agent

Real estate transactions come with legal documents, financial considerations, and contingencies that make even seasoned investors lean on a professional. Here’s what changes when Anna is on your side of the table.

  • Needs exploration. I’ll dig into your preferences and lifestyle so we understand exactly what makes a home your home before we step into a single listing.

  • Local market knowledge. Pricing trends, neighborhood amenities, school districts, future development plans — informed decisions when choosing a home and making an offer.

  • Negotiation skills. Whether it’s a lower price, seller-paid closing costs, or resolving issues from inspection, I’ll protect your financial interests.

  • Legal and financial guidance. I’ll make sure you understand every obligation in the paperwork and minimize the risk of mistakes that show up as surprises later.

  • Cost transparency. Recent NAR changes require buyers to be more aware of how agent compensation works. I’ll walk through every option so you can see the full picture.

POST-NAR CLARITY

Buyer compensation

With the recent NAR changes, buyers now have several options for compensating their agent if the seller does not cover the buyer’s-agent commission. Anna walks through each option up front so the only surprise is how smoothly the deal goes.

Cash at closing

Pay your agent’s commission directly as part of your closing costs, separate from your down payment and other fees.

Reduce the down payment

Adjust your down payment to free up funds for the commission. A 10% down payment becomes a 7% down payment with 3% allocated to your buyer’s agent.

Negotiate with the seller

Ask the seller to cover all or part of your agent’s commission as part of your offer, especially in a competitive market where you bring value to the deal.

Roll into the loan

Depending on the lender’s policy and your loan structure, financing the commission into the mortgage may be possible.

Once you’re ready to start, we’ll sign a Buyer Representation Agreement that spells out the structure that works best for your situation. No surprises, no fine print.

RECOMMENDED

Local resources

Anna’s short list of the Davis-area utility services, repair vendors, and inspectors her clients turn to first. Saved you the bookmarking.

WHAT TO

Expect

When you work with Anna, you can count on the values that have earned her a 100% five-star review record across Google, Zillow, Yelp, and Redfin.

Great communication

You always know what is happening, what is next, and what is expected from your side.

Honesty & transparency

Real answers, even when they are not what you hoped to hear. Especially then.

Integrity & respect

Every party treated fairly. Every deadline taken seriously. Every promise kept.

Local market knowledge

Davis street by street, neighborhood by neighborhood, school district by school district.

NEXT STEPS

Thank you

After our buyer consultation, we’ll sign a Buyer Representation Agreement and start a personalized property search based on your priorities. We’ll choose the homes to tour, schedule the viewings, and begin the exciting journey of finding your dream home.

Schedule your consultationRead the full buyer’s guide

Reach Your Real Estate Goals

www.livingindaviscalifornia.com

530.400.0496contact@LivingInDavisCalifornia.com