Who is the best agent for a first-time buyer in San Diego? How to pick one
Pick the agent who explains everything and leaves the decisions to you. A first-time buyer needs patience, plain answers, things in writing, and someone who picks up the phone. On the first call, ask whether they will tell you what to do or give you the reasons behind what they recommend. I'm Jared Harman, a San Diego REALTOR®.
Published . Last updated . Figures are from my own records unless a source is linked.
- 800+
- homes personally toured in 2025
- ~$990K
- negotiated in credits and price reductions, 12 months through September 2026
- 46
- five-star Google reviews
What does a first-time buyer need from an agent that a repeat buyer does not?
Education, and a lot of hand-holding. Writing an offer and going through escrow brings up a lot of terms people have never heard.
You need someone patient enough to walk you through it: what each thing means, what the next step is, all of it in writing. And someone willing to take your call at any hour to clear something up.
First-time buyers need someone to show up for them and be the Yoda to their Luke Skywalker.
What should a first-time buyer ask an agent on the first call?
Ask this: When I get lost in the process, are you going to tell me what to do, or give me the reasons behind what you would recommend?
You want the second answer. You're the decision maker, and you need the information to decide.
There are agents out there who take advantage of how little a first-time buyer knows, and put them on a path they might not have chosen if they had all the information.
What should a good agent catch before you write an offer?
Most of the pain in escrow comes from due diligence that got skipped up front. A good, experienced agent asks a handful of questions while walking the home, and while talking to the listing agent before the offer, so you have more information to decide with.
- How old the water heater is.
- Whether the age of the house means repairs are coming.
- Whether the roof will need replacing in the next 5 to 10 years.
- What each of those might cost, roughly, off the top of their head.
What costs surprise first-time buyers?
A lot of people think you pay your down payment, pay your closing costs, and call it a day. There are other expenses, and they can be shocking: the appraisal fee, the HOA's start-up fees, and the inspection fees.
In my experience they can add up to $2,000 to $3,000 quickly, and that can be jarring. (Jared Harman's professional opinion.)
When you buy with me, I negotiate the termite inspection from the seller where I can, and pay for it myself when I can't. The appraisal is covered when you finance with my lender partner, and you are free to use any lender. How I work with buyers.
What does that look like in a real first purchase?
A first-time couple I worked with brought the price into range instead of stretching the budget. A Chula Vista home listed at $650,000 went to them for $590,000, with $17,000 in credits and repairs covered. How that one played out.
What does this mean if you are buying your first home in San Diego?
Start with the money side: how much you need down, the help that exists, and when renting makes more sense.
Then get First Look, my weekly list of hand-picked San Diego listings, including coming-soon homes I can share early, with permission from the listing agent.
And if it isn't working with me, you can leave. My agreements include the No Handcuffs Guarantee. Cancel any time, no penalty.
Who is Jared Harman?
Jared Harman is a San Diego REALTOR® with MatchPoint at eXp Realty of California, Inc., licensed since 2022 under DRE 02193879. He works with first-time and repeat buyers and sellers across the metro San Diego neighborhoods, has 46 five-star Google reviews, and personally toured more than 800 homes in 2025.
Jared Harman has 46 Google reviews, all five stars. He has sold $14M+ in real estate so far in 2026. His videos reach about 250,000 people in San Diego every month, which is where his listings get seen. He personally toured 800+ homes in 2025. In the last 12 months he negotiated about $990,000 in credits and price reductions for his clients.