5 Tips for Making your Best Offer on a Home
As a buyer in a sellers’ market, sometimes it can feel like you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place. When you’re ready to make an offer on a home, remember these five easy tips to help you rise above the competition.
1. Know Your Budget
Knowing your budget and what you can afford is critical to your success as a homebuyer. The best way to understand your numbers is to work with a lender so you can get pre-approved for a loan. As Freddie Mac puts it:
“This pre-approval allows you to look for a home with greater confidence and demonstrates to the seller that you are a serious buyer.”
Showing sellers that you’re serious can give you a competitive edge, and it helps you act quickly when you’ve found your perfect home.
2. Be Ready to Move Fast
Homes are selling quickly in today’s competitive housing market. According to the Existing Home Sales Report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR):
“Eighty-three percent of homes sold in November 2021 were on the market for less than a month.”
When houses are selling this fast, staying on top of the market and moving quickly is key. Diane Nguyen can help you put together and submit your best offer as soon as you find the home you want to buy.
3. Lean on Diane’s Experience and Expertise
No matter what the housing market looks like, you can rely on Diane Nguyen as your trusted real estate advisor. As Freddie Mac also notes:
“The success of your homebuying journey largely depends on the company you keep. . . . Be sure to select experienced, trusted professionals who will help you make informed decisions and avoid any pitfalls.”
Diane is an expert in the local homes for sale on Leech Lake and the Twin Cities Metro area. She has insight into what’s worked for other buyers and what sellers may be looking for in an offer. It may seem simple, but catering to what a seller needs can help your offer stand out.
4. Make a Strong, but Fair Offer
According to the latest Realtors Confidence Index from NAR, 40% of offers today are above the list price. In such a competitive market, emotions and prices can run high. Having Diane to help you submit a strong, yet fair offer is critical in these situations. Diane can help you understand the market value of the home and recent sales trends in the area.
5. Be a Flexible Negotiator
When putting together an offer, Diane Nguyen will help you explore which levers you can pull, including contract contingencies (conditions you set that the seller must meet for the purchase to be finalized). Of course, there are certain contingencies you don’t want to give up. Freddie Mac explains:
“Resist the temptation to waive the inspection contingency, especially in a hot market or if the home is being sold ‘as-is’, which means the seller won’t pay for repairs. Without an inspection contingency, you could be stuck with a contract on a house you can’t afford to fix.”
Bottom Line
Today’s competitive landscape makes it more important than ever to make a strong offer on a home. For a no-obligation, hassle-free home buyer consultation, contact Diane at Diane Sells Leech Lakeshore and Twin Cities Homes Too! at 952-923-7280. Let’s connect to make sure you rise to the top along the way.