Case File 001 · Long Beach · First-Time Buyer

He spends his career protecting other people's homes. We helped him acquire his first.

The Client

He's a Southern California firefighter with a long-term plan. While most of his peers were waiting for the "perfect" market, he was studying it. He wanted his first property to do double duty: a home to live in, and an asset that would start generating income from day one. He came in disciplined, informed, and ready to move the moment the right opportunity surfaced.

First-Time Buyer Firefighter House-Hack Strategy Long Beach
The Mission

The brief was specific: a home he could live in, with enough flexibility to rent part of it out from day one. In a Long Beach market where competition is fierce and inventory moves fast, "primary residence that doubles as an investment" requires a sharp eye and sharper negotiation.

The Search

14 properties. One yes.

We walked 14 homes together. Some didn't pencil out as investments. Some had issues we caught before the inspector did. One had a sewer line so corroded it would have turned into a five-figure problem within a year. We kept moving. The 14th was the one.

The Deal
$23,250
Seller credit negotiated
$775,000
Purchase price
5%
Down payment, conventional
$0
Out of pocket closing costs
Rate permanently bought down
Early
Closing timeline
3
Inspections ordered (Home, Termite, Sewer)
Credit Allocation
Closing costs covered $14,725.00
Permanent rate buy-down $8,525.00
Total seller credit $23,250.00
The Negotiation

Most agents would have accepted a $5,000 to $10,000 credit and called it a day. We didn't. We pushed, armed with three inspection reports, a clear read on the seller's timeline, and a buyer with the discipline to walk if the numbers didn't land.

The result: $23,250. Enough to cover every dollar of closing costs and still have room left to permanently lower his monthly mortgage payment for the life of the loan.

Standard outcome
$5,000
With Josh
$23,250
In His Words
Working with Josh was a great experience. He's a young real estate agent but did extremely well. He was always by my side and answered any questions I had. Josh was quick to respond and if he didn't have an answer for me he worked hard to figure the information out and get it back to me as soon as possible. He did excellent work during negotiations and fought well for me. I would definitely recommend Josh!
The Client · Long Beach, CA
The Takeaway

First home. Investment property. Rate buy-down. Zero closing costs. One deal. One strategy.

If you are a first-time buyer who wants to build real wealth in this market, this is the conversation we want to have with you. Drop your address below.

Or call direct: (949) 438-5948