I think everyone knows this is a Seller’s market. There is less inventory then there is demand. Many Sellers are pushing up the asking price of their home trying to glean a few more dollars. This is understandable. Some Sellers have gotten TOO aggressive with their asking price and are “out of the market” This I believe is an opportunity for Buyers who want to avoid the bidding wars that occur today. There is no rule that says you can’t offer $200,000 for a home priced at $225,000. As an agent, I have a fiduciary responsibility to present any offer you make. I frequently provide input as to the probability of an offer being accepted. My Dad used to tell me the answer is always NO until you ask.
I have heard agents say, “I won’t present low ball offers” While that statement may make great “water cooler chatter”, it is not consistent with A Buyer Representation Agreement. Remember, your Agents job is to act in YOUR BEST INTEREST!
If you think a house is overpriced by $20,000 but you like the house, why not make an offer? What is the worst that could happen? The Seller could say NO THANK YOU! That’s not too devastating, is it? Sometimes the real art of negotiating is having a willingness to start the conversation. Oh and as far as hurting the Seller’s feelings, unless the Seller is your relative and you have to see them at every holiday for the rest of your life, it should be of little concern. This is a business transaction not an assessment of the Sellers taste in clothing or a critique of their peach cobbler recipe. If the house is in need of updates, has deferred maintenance or other issues it may be advisable to outline your reasons for the offer price.
Let’s, for a moment, think about a Seller who in an overheated real estate market (like we have today) has been on the market for over 90 days. And lets also suppose that they have had some showings but no offers. Is it possible they would welcome an offer even if it’s lower than the asking price? I would say in most cases the answer is YES!!! Remember, the actual market value of anything (including homes) is the price a willing Buyer and a willing Seller agree to.
This strategy can work if you and your agent are willing to do the homework.
What is the market value of comparable homes in the neighborhood?
Similar = style, age, finished sq. feet, amenities, finishes
Be ready to execute
-Have a pre-approval letter
-Sufficient earnest money
-What are your contingencies
-Inspection
-Sale of your home (Are you ready to sell/move)
The bottom line is you may be able to put yourself in a position to buy a home if you are willing to venture outside the proverbial box and avoid the your “What Will Sellers Take” comfort zone. Buying a home in today’s market can be difficult, but not impossible. You may just need to stretch a bit and be willing to look where others dare not go!!
Get rid of all government programs, REALLY?
In the case of FHA (Federal Housing Administration) and HUD (Department of Housing and Urban Development) You may be throwing the baby out with the bath water. Congress created the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) in 1934. The FHA became a part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Housing in 1965.
When the FHA was created, the housing industry was flat on its back:
Two million construction workers had lost their jobs.
Terms were difficult to meet for home buyers seeking mortgages.
Mortgage loan terms were limited to 50 percent of the property’s market value, with a repayment schedule spread over three to five years and ending with a balloon payment.
The American Dream of home ownership was really just a dream. For most people it simply was not part of any reality they faced. Can you imagine needing 50% down and then only having a 3-5 year period to payoff the loan or arrange other financing. It’s no wonder that only 4 out of 10 household were living in property they owned. By comparison home ownership statistics for 2018 (US Census Bureau) show 64.4% of homes are owned by the person residing there. Those numbers are down only slightly from the peak in 2004 (69.4%) but consistent with the 50 year average. So through programs like FHA, DVA (veterans) and secondary mortgage markets like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac home ownership is available to a much broader segment of the population.
Most of the government programs do not actually loan money to buy homes. Instead, they provide insurance against possible mortgage default by the home owner. This reduces the risk to financial institutions who borrow the money. The homeowner pays MIP (Mortgage Insurance Premium) each month with their regular payment as well as a 1.75% upfront fee to secure the insurance.
This insurance does not insure the entire mortgage amount and the companies that borrow still carry some of the risk.
There are a number of different loan programs that are available to homeowners. Working with a competent and experienced mortgage professional is critical. You need to have someone who works for your best interest and has access and knowledge of the various programs in order to get the product that is best for you. You should be aware that all mortgages are not available through all mortgage providers. Your real estate professional should have a basic understanding of programs and be able to recommend a couple of options.
There are also programs for people who want or need to refinance (new mortgage on an existing home). If you think your current rate is too high you should check out what is currently available.
Home ownership is now available to most people. With a little planning, research, and guidance you can have the American Dream.
In very active real estate markets, Buyers can feel like they are participants in a surreal TV game show “Can YOU Buy A House?” In this show, contestants madly scour computer screens to find a home that meets their needs and once located they race to look it over and then make an offer which is sent to some unknown third person (Sellers agent) who is tormenting the other contestants (oh yes there are other Buyers to compete against) by making counter offers and demands for highest and best offers where Buyers frequently feel like they are bidding against themselves. It is extremely exciting and lot’s of fun for the winners. The losers get no parting gift and usually end up feeling that they have failed.
The reality is, it’s not a game show. Usually it’s not theatrics, but economics and human nature that drives the process. The economics are simple supply and demand. In several price ranges and locals there is not enough available inventory to satisfy the number of Buyers. When that happens, sellers try to get as much money as possible for the property they are selling. (greed??) It’s a very predictable human response. Nobody wants to leave money on the table and in fairness to the Selling agent they have a fiduciary responsibility to the Seller.
“Mine” “No it’s mine”
While it doesn’t have to be contentious it is by nature adversarial. The Buyer and the Seller are working from juxtaposed positions and trying to come to a “meeting of the minds” so that the transaction can occur. It can feel like the Seller has all the power in the process. While the Seller may have more choices the only power they have is what you give them. How you manage the process of making an offer can help you mitigate the uncertainty and improve the outcome.
Preparation – Being fully pre-approved for the financing is critical. This process can take an hour or so but it is preferable to the “on-line pre-qualification” that usually states it is contingent on verifying your income and employment status. Make sure you are a strong candidate from a financing position. Most Sellers are not looking for uncertainty in the offer they accept particularly if they have options.
Terms – Things like earnest money, closing date, financing type, down payment, contingencies and price make up the deal. Have your agent speak with the Listing Agent prior to making the offer. You may get some insight into what is critical for the Seller. I actually lost a deal last year because of the closing date. The Seller accepted another offer that had the closing date two weeks later than my Buyers offer. That date fit better for the Seller and even though it was a slightly lower offer the Seller accepted. Earnest money is the Buyers “good faith” gesture to the Seller that they are serious. You may want to consider making a portion of the earnest money “non-refundable” That stance may present you as more serious than competing offers. Some types of loans (usually government backed) require more oversight and uncertainty for the Seller. For example, an FHA loan requires certain conditions in the house and if the appraisal comes back low it stays with the property for six months. Contingencies are also problematic. Sale of Another Home, Closing On The Sale Of A Home, Inspection are all types of contingencies that can occur. Some contingencies can’t be avoided but keeping things simple may give you a leg up. I am not suggesting nor would I recommend that a Buyer purchase a home (including new homes) without an inspection. The key is to keep the inspection period as short as possible.
I didn’t mention “Sellers Contribution To Buyer Closing Cost”. This is where the Buyer asks the Seller to contribute an amount toward the Buyers closing costs. Usually this is a percentage of the sale price. Any amount the Buyer asks for reduces what the Seller will get at the closing. If, as the Buyer, you need the assistance you may want to consider increasing your offer to offset the amount. In effect, financing your closing costs.
I usually recommend to Buyers that they present as “contingent free” deal as possible. There is a reason that investor buyers with cash, non-contingent (not even inspection) quick closing offers are so attractive. There just isn’t much that can derail the transaction.
Oh yeah, PRICE. (The eight hundred pound gorilla in the room) This may be where you throw rocks at the screen. I recommend that you make YOUR FIRST, YOUR BEST OFFER!!! When there is stiff competition there is no point messing around. If you make your best offer you don’t need to get caught up in “highest and best” you’re already there. And if your best wasn’t good enough then it doesn’t matter, right? Here is where the “yeah but” comes in. Yeah but what if they would take less? Yeah but what if they want to negotiate more? Yeah but, yeah but, yeah but. This is where the ping-pong effect comes in. To play this game you must be ready to have someone with a paddle put your life in play and be satisfied with the back and forth. Nonsense!! Why give up the control.
If you make your best offer (an offer you are happy with and can live with) the process is over. At lease for you. The Seller can try and escalate the price or use your offer to get higher bids but they could do that anyway. You’ve decided what you will pay and the terms you are willing to accept. If the Seller’s actions result in you paying more than your best offer, it wasn’t your best offer.
So buying a house can be stressful. It is considered a life event (moving) How much stress the process has on you is mostly up to you. Now I’m going to go watch my favorite game show…….
Otsego, where the prairie meets the city. OTSEGOTownship, first settled in October 1852, along the Mississippi and was named for a lake, a township, and a county in New York. The name “Otsego” is an Indian word, meaning “welcome water,” or “place where meetings are held.” This is appropriate because Otsego is where the prairie meets the city. The latest census shows the population is 13,571. Even though it is the youngest of the NW Metro cities (incorporated in 1990) it is growing rapidly.
Several builders have developments in Otsego; Cal Atlantic, Lennar, Centra, Keyland, and Hedberg are just a few. These developments have a variety of plans and price points. The City of Otsego is in Wright County which averages lower property taxes than neighboring Hennepin County or Sherburne County
There are many things to do in Otsego and the location make it convenient to access things throughout the Twin Cities metro area or taking a road trip to any of the lakes areas in northern or west central Minnesota. The Super Target is currently the focal point for “big box” retail with the area surrounding ripe for future development. There are several good local restaurants including Boondox Bar and Grille which features vollyball, broomball and patio dining with unique and well done made from scratch recipies. (not your typical bar food) The Pour Wine Bar Bistro is another local favorite featuring a great wine selection and top notch food. Both establishments feature live music from easy listening Jazz to southern rock!!
Otsego schools are part of the highly ranked Elk River School District with one elementary school and plans for a Prairieview E-8 school. Otsego is also the home of Kaleidoscope Charter School. Education excellence is a top priority in the Elk River School District and continuing efforts are being made to improve existing infrastructure as well as strategically adding facilities as the city continues to grow.
I think everyone knows this is a Seller’s market. There is less inventory then there is demand. Many Sellers are pushing up the asking price of their home trying to glean a few more dollars. This is understandable. Some Sellers have gotten TOO aggressive with their asking price and are “out of the market” This I believe is an opportunity for Buyers who want to avoid the bidding wars that occur today. There is no rule that says you can’t offer $200,000 for a home priced at $225,000. As an agent, I have a fiduciary responsibility to present any offer you make. I frequently provide input as to the probability of an offer being accepted. My Dad used to tell me the answer is always NO until you ask.
I have heard agents say, “I won’t present low ball offers” While that statement may make great “water cooler chatter”, it is not consistent with A Buyer Representation Agreement. Remember, your Agents job is to act in YOUR BEST INTEREST!
If you think a house is overpriced by $20,000 but you like the house, why not make an offer? What is the worst that could happen? The Seller could say NO THANK YOU! That’s not too devastating, is it? Sometimes the real art of negotiating is having a willingness to start the conversation. Oh and as far as hurting the Seller’s feelings, unless the Seller is your relative and you have to see them at every holiday for the rest of your life, it should be of little concern. This is a business transaction not an assessment of the Sellers taste in clothing or a critique of their peach cobbler recipe. If the house is in need of updates, has deferred maintenance or other issues it may be advisable to outline your reasons for the offer price.
Let’s, for a moment, think about a Seller who in an overheated real estate market (like we have today) has been on the market for over 90 days. And lets also suppose that they have had some showings but no offers. Is it possible they would welcome an offer even if it’s lower than the asking price? I would say in most cases the answer is YES!!! Remember, the actual market value of anything (including homes) is the price a willing Buyer and a willing Seller agree to.
This strategy can work if you and your agent are willing to do the homework.
What is the market value of comparable homes in the neighborhood?
Similar = style, age, finished sq. feet, amenities, finishes
Be ready to execute
Have a pre-approval letter
Sufficient earnest money
What are your contingencies
Inspection
Sale of your home
???????
The bottom line is you may be able to put yourself in a position to buy a home if you are willing to venture outside your
What Sellers Want
comfort zone and the proverbial box. Buying a home in today’s market can be difficult, but not impossible. You may just need to stretch a bit and be willing to look where others dare not go!!
Get rid of all government programs, REALLY?
The American Dream of home ownership was really just a dream. For most people it simply was not part of any reality they faced. Can you imagine needing 50% down and then only having a 3-5 year period to payoff the loan or arrange other financing. It’s no wonder that only 4 out of 10 household were living in property they owned. By comparison 
So buying a house can be stressful. It is considered a life event (moving) How much stress the process has on you is mostly up to you. Now I’m going to go watch my favorite game show…….
Several builders have developments in Otsego; Cal Atlantic, Lennar, Centra, Keyland, and Hedberg are just a few. These developments have a variety of plans and price points. The City of Otsego is in Wright County which averages lower property taxes than neighboring Hennepin County or Sherburne County 
There are many things to do in Otsego and the location make it convenient to access things throughout the Twin Cities metro area or taking a road trip to any of the lakes areas in northern or west central Minnesota. The Super Target is currently the focal point for “big box” retail with the area surrounding ripe for future development. There are several good local restaurants including Boondox Bar and Grille which features vollyball, broomball and patio dining with unique and well done made from scratch recipies. (not your typical bar food) The Pour Wine Bar Bistro is another local favorite featuring a great wine selection and top notch food. Both establishments feature live music from easy listening Jazz to southern rock!!
Otsego schools are part of the highly ranked Elk River School District with one elementary school and plans for a Prairieview E-8 school. Otsego is also the home of Kaleidoscope Charter School.
Let’s, for a moment, think about a Seller who in an overheated real estate market (like we have today) has been on the market for over 90 days. And lets also suppose that they have had some showings but no offers. Is it possible they would welcome an offer even if it’s lower than the asking price? I would say in most cases the answer is YES!!! Remember, the actual market value of anything (including homes) is the price a willing Buyer and a willing Seller agree to. 
