Tips for Making Your Best Offer on a Home

Tips for Making Your Best Offer on a Home

While the wild ride that was the 'unicorn' years of housing is behind us, today's market is still competitive in many areas because the supply of homes for sale is still low. If you're looking to buy a home this season, know that the peak frenzy of bidding wars is in the rearview mirror, but you may still come up against some multiple-offer scenarios.

Here are a few things to consider to help you put your best foot forward when making an offer on a home.

1. Lean on a Real Estate Professional

Rely on an agent who can support your goals and help you understand what's happening in today's housing market. Agents are experts in the local market and on national trends too. They'll use both areas of expertise to ensure you have all the information you need to move confidently.

Plus, they know what's worked for other buyers in your area and what sellers may look for in an offer. It may seem simple, but catering to a seller's needs can help your request stand out. As an article from Forbes says:

"Getting to know a local realtor where you’re hoping to buy can also potentially give you a crucial edge in a tight housing market."

2. Get Pre-Approved for a Home Loan

Given the current affordability challenges, having a clear budget in mind is especially important. The best way to get a clear picture of what you can borrow is to work with a lender to get pre-approved for a home loan.

That'll help you be more financially confident because you'll better understand your numbers. It shows sellers you're serious, too. And that can give you a competitive edge if you get into a multiple-offer scenario.

3. Make a Fair Offer

It's only natural to want the best deal on a home. However, submitting an offer that's too low does have some risks. You don't want to make an offer that will be tossed out as soon as it's received to see if it sticks. As Realtor.com explains:

“. . . an offer price that’s significantly lower than the listing price, is often rejected by sellers who feel insulted . . . Most listing agents try to get their sellers to at least enter negotiations with buyers, to counteroffer with a number a little closer to the list price. However, if a seller is offended by a buyer or isn’t taking the buyer seriously, there’s not much you, or the real estate agent, can do.”

Your agent's expertise in this part of the process will help you stay competitive and find a fair price for you and the seller.

4. Trust Your Agent's Expertise Throughout Negotiations

During the 'unicorn' years of housing, some buyers skipped home inspections or didn't ask for concessions from the seller to submit the winning bid on a home. An article from Bankrate explains this isn't happening as often today, and that's good news:

“While the market has largely calmed down since then, sellers are still very much in the driver’s seat in this era of scarce housing inventory. It’s not as common for buyers to waive inspections anymore, but it does still happen. . . . It’s in the buyer’s best interest to have a home inspected . . . Inspections alert you to existing or potential problems with the home, giving you not just an early heads up but also a useful negotiating tactic.”

Fortunately, today's market is different, and you may have more negotiating power. When putting together an offer, your trusted real estate advisor will help you think through what levers to pull and which ones you may want to maintain.

Bottom Line

When you buy a home this summer, I'd like to connect so you have an expert to help you make your best offer.