The Buyer Experience

See our 8 step process for buyers.

We’ve helped hundreds of buyers find their dream homes in Palm Springs!

How to Buy a Home in Palm Springs the Smart Way

We get asked all the time: “How do I buy a house in Palm Springs?”

The truth is—anyone with the right budget can purchase a home. But the real question should be, “How do I make a smart home purchase?”

Because while it’s easy to buy, not every purchase is a good investment. Too many buyers jump in without the right guidance and end up losing money in the long run.

At The Paul Kaplan Group, we’ve helped buyers for over 25 years make smart, strategic home purchases in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. This guide takes you behind the scenes, sharing the same advice we give our clients when they’re searching for the right home. From navigating unique Palm Springs neighborhoods to understanding lease land vs. fee simple, we’ll walk you through what you really need to know—so you can buy with confidence, not regret.

Home Search

Palm Springs Homes

Mid-century
and Modern Homes

Other Desert Cities

Pre-Fab & Manufactured Homes

55+
Communities

Pasadena Condos

Our 8 Step Buying Process:

Beginning your home search can be an overwhelming and daunting task. So, our team ensures that you and other potential buyers know the 8 steps we take to make the process as easy and painless as possible. By the end of your search, with our support and guidance, you will live happily ever after in your new, dream home.

1. Determine what you Want vs Need

Let’s get to know each other! Once you’re ready to work with our team, we’ll meet together either in person or virtually, for a Buyer Consultation to focus your search and determine what you want and need in a home. Your agent will discuss Flexible Buyer Engagement Models (see below), and which one works best with you.

Known for our ability to listen and understand our clients’ needs, The Paul Kaplan Group continuously delivers above and beyond their goals.

2. Pre-qualification

We’ll introduce you to one of our mortgage partners, who can help you determine your buying price range with confidence. Be prepared to dig into paperwork during this part of the process such as pay stubs, W2’s, and tax returns. The lender will do a full review and then tell you what you will be able to borrow in order to purchase a home. This is a vital step in the home buying process!

3. Listing alerts sent to you based on your criteria

Our agents get to know you — Looking for a vacation home? Need to move for a job? Getting married? Retiring? Need to upgrade or downsize? At this stage in the process, we’ll send you notifications about the listings that you’re most likely to be excited about. Be sure to let us know if one (or more) jumps out at you so that we can skip to the next step and schedule a viewing. be there for you every step of the way.

4. Schedule viewings (virtually or in person)

Here’s where the buying process gets really fun! We’ll schedule viewings either in person or virtually via FaceTime, of the homes that you’ve loved from our listing alerts. We’ll talk about how the budget will work and make sure that we find you the perfect home.

5. Find the perfect home and write an offer

When you’re ready to make an offer, your agent will present a written offer to the seller. And while everyone loves getting their offer accepted right away, the seller could come back to us with a counter offer, or reject your initial offer all together. We’re happy to walk you through each of these possibilities and exactly how to handle them. Once the offer is accepted, it’s time to get your financing in order and move forward to the next step!

6. Acceptance, appraisal and inspection

The sellers accepted your offer, and the home is going through appraisal and inspection. The appraisal guarantees that the price of the property matches the condition of the property while the inspection makes sure that everything in the home is functioning properly and there are no major issues inside. These are the last steps before the shiny keys to your home are placed in your hand... for good!

7. Time to close and get the keys

Get excited because it’s time to close on your home! This process includes going through all of the final paperwork and signing your name (a lot!). Don't forget to bring all of the paperwork you’ve collected along the way and your down payment.