Searching for a new home in Southern California's luxury real estate market is an exciting event. With amazing weather and so many fun places to live, you must first decide where it is you plan on finding a home; near the beach, closer to the city, or maybe in the hills. Next, it is important to consider what type of luxurious amenities you would like in your home.

People who are interested in buying luxury homes usually look for features in their home that reflect the relaxed lifestyle prevalent throughout Southern California. These might include gourmet kitchens, home theatres, wine cellars and complex security systems to protect it all. They also look for furniture and interior decor and outside living space to match their personalities.

If price is not an issue, then what you look for in a home will depend entirely on your lifestyle and taste. Studies show that a major concern of Southern California luxury homebuyers is having a "designer" kitchen for entertaining. The other top-rated features desired include: entertainment room, luxury bathroom, wine cellar, exercise area, recreation room, and retreat area.

Here are five tips to make your search for a new home more successful:

1. Investigate what your other bills might be. Electricity is very expensive in Southern California and with recent appreciation, you property tax bill could increase substantially based on the new purchase price.

2. You should choose a real estate consultant who is a specialist in the Southern California market. They should have sold lots of homes, have solid references, and a successful track record to prove it.

3. DO NOT skip the home inspection. Even if you can't attend the inspection yourself, you can hire a certified inspector to prepare a property report and send it to you via email. You should also ask them to drop off a hard copy to your Realtor.

4. Don't hesitate to ask for concessions, even if the price is reasonable. You can ask the sellers to pay some of the closing costs, or replace certain items that need to be repaired.

5. Do not let emotions rule your decision. You need to be practical - at some point you may decide to resell the house.

Buying a home is a big investment. Finding the right home requires time, effort, and some real estate market savvy. The above guidelines are a good starting point to finding the Southern California Home of your dreams.