What Are the Steps to Buying a Home in San Diego?

by Trevor Landress

Buying a home in San Diego follows ten steps: set a budget, get preapproved, sign a written agreement with your agent, search, make an offer, open escrow, complete your inspections and loan, review your Closing Disclosure, do a final walkthrough, and close. The dates in your contract drive the schedule.

I'm Trevor Landress, a San Diego REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker West and part of the Campbell Group, a three-generation real estate team. This guide walks through the home buying process in San Diego in order, with the deadlines that matter.

The short answer

Ten steps, from budget to recorded deed.
Buyers now need a written agreement with their agent before touring homes with them (NAR settlement).
The default contingency period in the California purchase agreement is 17 days.
Your lender gives you a Loan Estimate within three business days of applying.
You get your Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing.

What are the 10 steps?

Set your budget. Look at your monthly payment, your cash for the down payment and closing costs, and your reserves.
Get preapproved. A lender reviews your income, debts and credit and tells you what you may borrow.
Sign a written agreement with your agent. Under the National Association of REALTORS® settlement, buyers need one before touring homes with an agent.
Search and tour homes. Match homes to your budget and must-haves.
Make an offer. Your agent helps you set the price, terms and contingencies.
Open escrow. A neutral escrow company holds the money and documents.
Do your due diligence. Inspections, disclosures, appraisal and loan approval happen during your contingency period.
Remove contingencies. In the California contract, you remove them in writing when you are satisfied.
Review your Closing Disclosure. You get it at least three business days before closing.
Do a final walkthrough, sign and close. Your deed is recorded with the county.

Step 1 and 2: budget and preapproval

Start with the payment, not the price. C.A.R. reported a median San Diego County price of $1,075,000 in the second quarter of 2026, and a minimum qualifying income of about $268,000. Those are benchmarks. Your lender will give you your own numbers.

A preapproval is not a guarantee of a loan. It is a lender's review of your file. Sellers take offers with a preapproval letter more seriously. If you are still deciding on timing, read my guide on whether to buy now or wait for rates to drop.

Step 3: the written buyer agreement

After the National Association of REALTORS® settlement, buyers working with an agent need a written agreement before touring homes with that agent. It should spell out what the agent does and how the agent is paid. Read it, ask questions, and make sure you understand the terms before you sign.

Steps 4 and 5: search and offer

Homes in San Diego County sold in a median of 19 days in July 2026, according to C.A.R. data reported by KPBS. When homes move that fast, you want your preapproval and your questions ready before you tour. Your offer covers more than price. It sets the deposit, the dates, the contingencies and who pays for what.

Why do contingencies matter?

In the California Association of REALTORS® purchase agreement, the default time for the buyer's inspection, loan and appraisal contingencies is 17 days. Contingencies are removed by an active step. Missing a deadline can put your deposit at risk, so know every date in your contract.

Contingency	What it protects
Inspection and disclosures	Lets you review the home's condition and back out or renegotiate
Appraisal	Protects you if the home appraises below the price
Loan	Protects you if your financing falls through

What happens in escrow?

Escrow is a neutral process run by a third party. Your deposit goes there. The escrow officer collects documents, coordinates with your lender and the title company, and follows the instructions in the contract. Neither the buyer nor the seller controls the money alone.

During escrow, a title company checks that the seller can legally transfer the home. Your lender orders an appraisal. You complete your inspections. Each of these ties back to a date in your contract.

Which paperwork and deadlines should you know?

Item	What to know
Loan Estimate	Due within three business days of your loan application (CFPB)
Closing Disclosure	Due at least three business days before closing (CFPB)
Contingency period	Default is 17 days in the C.A.R. purchase agreement; it can be changed in the offer
Recording	Your deed is recorded with the San Diego County Recorder

Steps 9 and 10: closing

Compare your Closing Disclosure with your Loan Estimate. Do your final walkthrough close to closing to check that the home is in the agreed condition. Then you sign, funds move, and the deed is recorded with the county. Ownership transfers at recording.

How can you avoid common surprises?

Do not change jobs, open new credit or make large purchases before closing.
Keep your bank statements ready for your lender.
Read the seller disclosures and inspection reports, not just the summaries.
Ask your agent to walk you through every date on the contract.

This is not a guarantee

Prices, rates and loan rules change, and every buyer is different. The numbers in this post are averages, benchmarks or my own examples. They are not a quote, a prediction or a guarantee. Talk to a lender about your own situation. Your brokerage's forms and your contract control the details.

My advice for San Diego buyers

Get preapproved before you tour, and read your buyer agreement carefully.
Put every contract date on your calendar the day you sign.
Read the reports yourself, and ask your inspector questions.
Keep your finances steady until the deed records.
Ask questions early. A small question in week one is cheaper than a big problem in week three.

Call or text me at (619) 402-4614 or send me a message.

Call or text (619) 402-4614 Contact Trevor Landress

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

What are the steps to buy a home in San Diego?

Set a budget, get preapproved, sign a written agreement with your agent, search, make an offer, open escrow, finish inspections and loan approval, review your Closing Disclosure, do a final walkthrough and close.

Do I need to sign an agreement with a buyer's agent?

Under the National Association of REALTORS® settlement, buyers need a written agreement with their agent before touring homes with them. Review the terms and compensation before you sign.

How long are contingencies in California?

The default is 17 days in the C.A.R. purchase agreement, but the time can be changed in the offer.

When do I see my final loan costs?

Your Closing Disclosure must reach you at least three business days before closing, according to the CFPB.

When do I officially own the home?

Ownership transfers when escrow closes and the deed is recorded with the county recorder.

About the author

Trevor Landress is a San Diego REALTOR® with Coldwell Banker West (DRE# 02126901). He was born and raised in San Diego and has been licensed since 2021. Trevor helps homeowners sell, guides first-time buyers through the home buying process and assists investors with their next acquisition. His work includes negotiating offers, analyzing market trends, building pricing strategies and running marketing campaigns for his listings.

He serves clients across San Diego County, from coastal communities like La Jolla, Del Mar and Carlsbad to neighborhoods inland. Trevor is part of the Campbell Group, a three-generation real estate team, and he and the Campbell Group consistently rank as a top producing team at Coldwell Banker West each month. He writes these guides to help San Diego buyers and sellers navigate an ever-changing market. To talk through your plans, call or text (619) 402-4614 or contact Trevor Landress.

Sources

This article is general information about the San Diego housing market and home buying. It is not financial, tax or legal advice. Rates, programs and rules change, so confirm details with your lender, a tax professional or an attorney before you act.