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Down Payment

• The classic rule is 20 percent down, but plenty of buyers come in with less, sometimes as low as 3.5 percent. What matters for you as a seller is knowing that buyers in our coastal markets are often stretching their budgets, so the strength of their down payment can tell you a lot about how solid their offer really is.
• Loan Term Most buyers choose a 30-year fixed loan because it keeps their monthly payment lower, which lets them reach into a higher price point. A 15-year loan builds equity faster but comes with a bigger monthly payment, so it tends to show up with move-up buyers or downsizers who have strong cash positions. When you see the loan term on an offer, it gives you a sense of how the buyer is thinking.

Loan Type

• You will mostly see two types of loans on offer, fixed-rate and adjustable-rate. Fixed-rate means the buyer's payment stays the same for the life of the loan, which is the safer, more predictable choice. Adjustable-rate, or ARM, starts with a lower rate that locks in for five or seven years before it begins adjusting. ARMs are common with buyers who plan to move again within that window, which happens often in our coastal market.
• Interest Rate This field is pre-filled with today's average rate, but every buyer's actual rate is a little different based on their credit, their down payment, and the loan program. Most coastal South OC homes price into jumbo loan territory, which has its own underwriting rules, so the lender on the other side of an offer matters as much as the number on the contract.

Property Tax Rate

• Property taxes here run close to 1.1 percent of the home's value each year. Newer planned communities like parts of Talega in San Clemente sometimes carry an extra Mello-Roos assessment on top of that, which buyers will factor into what they can afford. It is worth knowing whether your home falls into one of those areas because it shapes how buyers run their numbers.

Home Insurance

• Insurance has become a real conversation in our market. Homes near the bluff, in higher fire zones, or in older oceanfront pockets of Laguna Beach and Dana Point can carry premiums well above what buyers expect. Coming to the table with recent insurance information for your home can remove a question mark and keep an offer moving forward.

HOA Fees

• HOAs vary widely across coastal South OC. Many older Laguna Beach and San Clemente neighborhoods have none at all. Standard tracts often sit in a comfortable middle range. Guard-gated communities like Monarch Beach, Niguel Shores, and Bear Brand Ranch carry higher monthly dues that cover security and amenities. Buyers always ask what the HOA includes, so having that information ready strengthens your position.