Make Your Best Offer FIRST
This strategy is not about trying to negotiate the best price; it is about beating out the competition and buying the home. It may be difficult to understand until you have lost a few homes to better offers but when the reality of the situation is that there are not that many homes on the […]
Make Your Best Offer FIRST
This strategy is not about trying to negotiate the best price; it is about beating out the competition and buying the home. It may be difficult to understand until you have lost a few homes to better offers but when the reality of the situation is that there are not that many homes on the […]

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This strategy is not about trying to negotiate the best price; it is about beating out the competition and buying the home. It may be difficult to understand until you have lost a few homes to better offers but when the reality of the situation is that there are not that many homes on the market, the competition heats up and different tactics are necessary.

Sales in December were annualized at 6.76 million, a 22.2% increase year over year according to the National Association of REALTOR®. The median sales price is $309,800 which is up 12.9% from the previous year. Inventory for December fell to 1.9 months’ supply from 3.0 months’ supply in December of 2019. Six months inventory is considered a balanced market.

Things that work in a buyer’s market will not work in a seller’s market. The shortage of available homes for sale has led to not only shorter market times but multiple offers that have sales prices above the listing price. Buyers, especially in entry to mid-level priced ranges, may have lost out multiple times to buy a home.

Buyers must be strategic if they want to successfully find a home. There are some things that are absolutely essential to just be in the game.

Unless you are paying cash and have adequate proof of funds, you need to get pre-approved. REALTORS® and financial advisors have been saying this for decades, but it is critical now. There are plenty of reasons that benefit the buyer but most importantly, it is to show that a buyer is serious and has gone through the effort to have a lender run his credit and verify his income, expenses, employment, and credit.

If the home fresh on the market, in a desired location and price range, you need to assume there will be competing offers and you may never even get a counteroffer from the seller. You need to consider making your highest and best offer first, as if you will not get a second chance. This is more difficult for some people than others because of their bargaining nature.

Earnest money that accompanies a contract shows that the buyer is acting in good faith. The amount that may be customary may not be enough in a competing market. Consider two or three times what might be normal. Talk to your agent about what would make an impression on the seller.

While contingencies will protect your earnest money from specific concerns like loan approval and inspections, the seller will look at them as ways that the buyer can get out of the contract and they’ll need to put the home back on the market. If a seller is presented multiple offers, they might be prone to accept one with the least contingencies, especially, if the prices are comparable.

There is usually a period connected to the different contingencies that are allowed to complete them. By shortening these times as much as possible limits the time the seller might feel they are in limbo.

If you have the flexibility, you might express your willingness to move the closing and/or possession dates to accommodate the seller’s schedule. This could be an important factor in your favor and could be done in a verbal statement conveyed from your agent to the listing agent.

These are things buyers should consider and discuss with their agent before they find the home that they want to buy. While you are formulating your position, another offer may be accepted before you even make yours. For more information, download our Buyers Guide.

LIST OF BLOGS

Courts of Fox Mill Homeowners Association

Historical Overview Origins and Development: The Fox Mill area, including the Courts of Fox Mill, began as a rural farmland before the mid-20th century. The transformation into a residential area was part of the post-World War II suburban boom. The specific...

Courts Cluster

Historical Context Fairfax County, named after Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, has a rich history that dates back to its establishment in 1742. The Courts Cluster, located centrally within the county, is named for its proximity to the Fairfax County...

Courts at Riverwind

History of The Courts at Riverwind The Courts at Riverwind is a residential community managed by Flannery Property Management, located in Centreville, Fairfax County, Virginia. While specific historical details about its establishment are not directly available from...

Courtland Park

Historical Background Early Settlement and Development: Fairfax County itself was established in 1742, but the specific area of Courtland Park developed much later. Originally, the land that Courtland Park occupies was part of the vast tracts owned by colonial...

Courtland at Rolling Oaks Homeowners Association

History of Courtland at Rolling Oaks HOA Fairfax County has a storied history dating back to its establishment in 1742, named after Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron. The creation of communities like Courtland at Rolling Oaks is a more modern development,...

Courthouse Woods HOA

Historical Background The inception of Courthouse Woods HOA can be traced back to the broader development patterns in Fairfax County during the late 20th century, a period marked by suburban expansion around the nation's capital. Fairfax County has a rich history,...

Courthouse Station Homeowners Association

History of Courthouse Station HOA Fairfax County, established in 1742, has a rich history of community development, with neighborhoods like Courthouse Station emerging as part of its suburban growth. Courthouse Station likely developed during a period when Fairfax...

Courthouse Oaks Homeowners Association

History of Courthouse Oaks HOA: Courthouse Oaks HOA is nestled within Fairfax County, Virginia, an area with a rich history that dates back to its establishment in 1742. The community of Courthouse Oaks, however, represents a more recent chapter in Fairfax County's...

Courthouse Commons HOA

Historical Context Fairfax County, named after Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, has a rich historical tapestry beginning from its establishment in 1742. The area where Courthouse Commons now stands would have seen significant historical events, including...

Court of Chandon HOA

Historical Context Formation and Evolution: The Court of Chandon was established during a period when Fairfax County was rapidly expanding due to suburban sprawl influenced by the proximity to Washington D.C. The HOA likely came into existence in the late 20th...

RECENT POSTS

Courts Cluster

Historical Context Fairfax County, named after Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, has a...

Courts at Riverwind

History of The Courts at Riverwind The Courts at Riverwind is a residential community managed by...

Courtland Park

Historical Background Early Settlement and Development: Fairfax County itself was established in...

Courthouse Woods HOA

Historical Background The inception of Courthouse Woods HOA can be traced back to the broader...

Courthouse Commons HOA

Historical Context Fairfax County, named after Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, has a...

Court of Chandon HOA

Historical Context Formation and Evolution: The Court of Chandon was established during a period...

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