You Can’t Do It On Your Own
I get it. Really. You can view every available listing online without an agent. You can look up recent comps and even use AVMs to get an estimate of what a property might sell for. And there’s always open houses to go to.
But whether you realize it or not, you can’t actually buy real estate without the help of an agent. And even if you could, why would you? In CA, all commissions are paid by the seller. So basically, I work for buyers for free.
You need someone who knows the process, the paperwork, how to negotiate for the best terms and price and who will protect your interests.