Let's find your next home.
A clear process, a curated search, and a buyer's agent who actually knows the market.
Who I work with
I help buyers across San Jose, Sunnyvale, Cupertino, Palo Alto, Los Gatos, and Saratoga, from first condos to forever homes and Eichlers.
First-time buyers
I walk you through the whole thing — financing, neighborhoods, what to look for, what to skip.
Move-up buyers
You know what you like. I'll help you find it, get it under contract, and time the sale of your current home.
Eichler / mid-century buyers
The niche within a niche. I know the homes, the tracts, and the renovation trade-offs, and I'll send you early alerts when the right one comes up.
How buying with me works
Buying here moves fast, but it shouldn't feel rushed. Here's every stage, what I handle, and what I'll need from you.
Intro call
15 minutes
We talk through what you're looking for, where, your budget, and your timing. I explain how I work and how I'm paid, so there are no surprises.
What I do
- Walk you through the process and the local market
- Explain the buyer agreement and my compensation
What you do
- Share your must-haves, deal-breakers, and timeline
Buyer agreement and pre-approval
About a week
We'll put our working relationship in writing, and you'll get pre-approved by a lender, since sellers expect it with any offer.
What I do
- Go over the agreement line by line before you sign
- Introduce you to lenders if you'd like options
What you do
- Get pre-approved: pay stubs, tax returns, and bank statements
- Settle on a comfortable monthly budget, not just a price
Search and tours
Varies
You get a saved search for new listings that fit, and we tour the ones worth your time.
What I do
- Set up your home search and alerts
- Read the disclosures before you offer and flag concerns early
- Tell you honestly when a house isn't worth it
What you do
- Tour, and tell me what you liked and didn't
Offer
A few days
When you find the one, we build an offer around the comparable sales, the seller's disclosures, and the competition.
What I do
- Review the disclosure package and any seller inspections
- Pull comparable sales and recommend price and terms
- Write the offer and negotiate on your behalf
What you do
- Decide on your price, terms, and how much risk you're comfortable with
In contract
A few weeks
Once your offer is accepted, there's a window to inspect, appraise, and finalize your loan before you're fully committed. We'll set those terms together when we write the offer.
What I do
- Schedule inspections and help you read the reports
- Track every deadline with escrow and your lender
- Negotiate repairs or credits if something turns up
What you do
- Attend inspections, line up insurance, and keep your lender moving
Closing
A few weeks
Final walkthrough, signing, and keys.
What I do
- Walk the house with you before closing
- Coordinate with escrow until keys are in hand
What you do
- Sign the final documents and wire your funds through escrow
Buying in Silicon Valley: what's different here
A few things surprise almost everyone buying here for the first time.
Inspections come before offers
Sellers often provide a disclosure package and their own inspection reports up front. Reading them before you offer is how you compete without flying blind.
Offer dates and multiple offers
Many listings set a date to review all offers at once. Your price matters, but so do your terms: deposit, contingencies, and closing timeline.
Contingencies are a trade-off
Contingencies protect you, and removing them makes an offer stronger. We decide together how much risk makes sense for you, house by house.
Appraisal gaps
When a home sells above what the appraiser says it's worth, the lender lends on the lower number, and the buyer covers the difference in cash. Plan for it before you offer.
Budget beyond the price
Property taxes reset when you buy, and insurance, HOA dues, and upkeep add up. We'll work out your real monthly number together before you fall for a house.
What working with me costs
Before we tour, we'll sign a short buyer agreement that spells out how I'm paid. Commissions aren't set by law and are negotiable, and in many deals the seller ends up covering some or all of it.
I'll walk you through the agreement and how the numbers work for your situation on our first call, before you sign anything.
What you can expect from me
Fast replies
Same-day replies, including weekends, whenever I can.
Straight answers
If a house isn't worth it, I'll tell you, even if it means waiting longer.
A plan you can see
You'll always know what happens next, what's due, and when.
Before you start
Get these done and you'll be ready to move when the right house shows up.
Get pre-approved, not just pre-qualified
A pre-approval means a lender has checked your income, assets, and credit. Sellers expect it with an offer.
Know your monthly number
Mortgage, property tax, insurance, and any HOA dues, not just the purchase price.
Plan for cash beyond the down payment
Closing costs, a cushion for repairs, and possibly an appraisal gap.
Gather your documents
Recent pay stubs, two years of tax returns, and bank statements.
List must-haves and deal-breakers
Commute, schools, size, and style. It makes tours faster and offers easier.
Ask about first-time buyer programs
Down payment help exists for some buyers. Programs change often, so we'll look at what fits you when we talk.
Your agent
I grew up in San Jose, the son of a realtor, and I've spent my life looking at the homes in these neighborhoods. I bring a designer's eye to every tour: which homes have real potential, and which renovations will cost more than they're worth.
I'm with Keller Williams Bay Area Estates, so you get one person who knows you, backed by a full brokerage.
Areas served
San Jose
Jacob's hometown — wide range of neighborhoods and price points
Sunnyvale
Strong Eichler presence, walkable downtown, easy commute
Palo Alto
Top schools, premium pricing, trophy Eichlers in Green Gables / Greenmeadow
Cupertino
Schools, Eichler tracts, proximity to Mountain View
Los Gatos
Downtown charm, strong schools, foothill access
Saratoga
Larger lots, quieter streets, top-rated schools
I also work with mid-century modern buyers and sellers in Santa Cruz and Monterey.
Questions, answered
Common questions
Do I need a buyer's agent?
You're not required to have one. But the listing agent works for the seller. A buyer's agent works only for you: on price, on terms, on what the inspection reports really mean, and on every deadline in between.
How long does buying a home take?
The search is the variable part: weeks for some buyers, months for others. Once you're in contract, closing usually follows within about a month. I'll give you a realistic timeline when we talk.
Should I sell my current home before I buy?
It depends on your finances and the market. An offer that depends on selling your current home is weaker in a competitive market, so many move-up buyers use options like a bridge loan or a rent-back. We'll map out the sequence that fits you.
Can I back out after my offer is accepted?
During your contingency periods, generally yes, under the contract's terms. Once you remove contingencies, your deposit is usually at risk. I'll make sure you know exactly where you stand before every step.