There are a few things every Inland Empire home buyer should know about negotiating in a seller’s market. Most buyers are reasonably concerned with making an offer that will get accepted by the home seller.
A home seller who looks at all offers in a comprehensive fashion with the help of an experienced Realtor, will be evaluating offers on the following merits generally:
1. The price offered- this is a no brainer, obviously. Of course every seller examines the price offered, but the decision is not based solely on the price offered. The seller has also taken into account additional factors that provide for a larger net and faster closing of the transaction.
2. The concessions that were requested- Offers that have requests for items such as termite inspections, termite repairs, closing costs, etc. usually create a lower final net for the seller and therefore, generally, are not deemed as the most competitive offers.
3. The length of time that the closing of escrow was stipulated. The faster the close of escrow can be, the more competitive the offer.
4. Appraisal Contingencies and Loan Contingencies are additional factors examined as both of these can cause delays or issues. The less contingencies, the more competitive the offer.
5. The type of financing the buyer will be obtaining- right now cash is King if the offered price is right! Conventional loans will generally trump FHA or VA loans.
It is a competitive and challenging market for buyers and unfortunately for buyers, there are more buyers than there are sellers. Eager buyers must stay well abreast of the market and come prepared with their very best offer at the onset. The mindset that there will be chances at counter offers and further negotiations should be weighed carefully in the face of diminishing supply and rising interest rates. The market is cyclical in all senses of the word and just like it is a seller’s market today, it was a buyer’s market not quite so long ago. But for those who wish to purchase a home in the current seller’s market, they must make the best offer that is possible when the opportunity arises.
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