Born and raised in San Francisco, Franco grew up in a real estate family as both his parents were active agents. Growing up, he spent many after school afternoons at his father’s office assisting 65+ agents in the many aspects of this business. He attended Lowell High School and the University of San Francisco, majoring in Applied Economics. In 1999, he obtained his real estate license and was fortunate to be accepted into the largest and most prolific San Francisco real estate office at the time. Despite being the youngest agent within an office that comprised of 100+ of the most experienced Realtors in the City, with the guidance of his broker, he garnered Rookie of the Year Honors in 2000. Throughout his real estate career, Franco has completed transactions for numerous clients who have bought, sold, and exchanged single family homes, condos, lofts, vacant lots, multi-unit properties, and mixed units. He has also assisted corporations in relocating their employees to and from San Francisco, often handling details of the transaction while the client is thousands of miles away. In addition to transacting real estate deals, Franco is also familiar with refinancing loans, short sales, loan modifications, and REO scenarios. He has also kept abreast of the ever changing real estate rules and regulations by taking continuing education classes.

During his spare time, Franco enjoys playing sports, cooking, and traveling. Never one to become complacent, he also manages to set aside time to learn new things … such as internet marketing, sailing, kitesurfing, and creating websites. Born and raised in San Francisco, Franco grew up in a real estate family as both his parents were active agents. Growing up, he spent many after school afternoons at his father’s office assisting 65+ agents in the many aspects of this business. He attended Lowell High School and the University of San Francisco, majoring in Applied Economics. In 1999, he obtained his real estate license and was fortunate to be accepted into the largest and most prolific San Francisco real estate office at the time. Despite being the youngest agent within an office that comprised of 100+ of the most experienced Realtors in the City, with the guidance of his broker, he garnered Rookie of the Year Honors in 2000. Throughout his real estate career, Franco has completed transactions for numerous clients who have bought, sold, and exchanged single family homes, condos, lofts, vacant lots, multi-unit properties, and mixed units. He has also assisted corporations in relocating their employees to and from San Francisco, often handling details of the transaction while the client is thousands of miles away. In addition to transacting real estate deals, Franco is also familiar with refinancing loans, short sales, loan modifications, and REO scenarios. He has also kept abreast of the ever changing real estate rules and regulations by taking continuing education classes.

During his spare time, Franco enjoys playing sports, cooking, and traveling. Never one to become complacent, he also manages to set aside time to learn new things … such as internet marketing, sailing, kitesurfing, and creating websites.

Buying a home is one of the largest financial commitments a person can make in his or her lifetime. It’s especially critical for first-time buyers to make informed decisions about the investment that they are about to make. First-time homebuyers need some basic help to make the process easier.

Define your wants and capabilities versus your needs. Knowing what you can afford is perhaps more important than knowing what you want.

Investigate the neighborhood of your dreams. However, step number one: talk first with a qualified mortgage broker before beginning the search. Being approved for a mortgage is critical and a very easy process. Having a pre-approval in hand affords buyer strength in negotiating, particularly important in a highly competitive marketplace, which many first-time home buyers encounter.” . Where are the schools, parks and recreation? How far is the nearest hospital or grocery store? These are basic, yet important, questions that some first timers may not think of until after closing on a property.

Be an informed buyer. Some neighborhoods have deed restrictions such as exterior maintenance, lawn care or fencing. All too often, buyers aren’t aware of restrictions that apply to their use of the property until it’s too late. Buyers should check with their real estate agent so they understand what restrictions are enforced in the area they are interested in.

Insist on a home inspection. Attend property inspections. Be aware of environmental concerns and ask questions. Get help with the details. Coordinating these and the many details of a move can be overwhelming for even the most experienced homebuyer. Look for a real estate company that can help coordinate related services. Purchasing a home is an important investment and buyers need to thoroughly think through the process. Choosing an experienced and professional Realtor is an important decision.

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