Thinking of Making an Offer? 4 Tips for Success

So you’ve been searching for that perfect house to call a ‘home,’ and you finally found one! The price is right, and in such a competitive market that you want to make sure you make a good offer so that you can guarantee your dream of making this house yours comes true!

Freddie Mac covered “4 Tips for Making an Offer” in their latest Executive Perspective. Here are the 4 Tips they covered along with some additional information for your consideration:

1. Understand How Much You Can Afford

“While it’s not nearly as fun as house hunting, fully understanding your finances is critical in making an offer.”

This ‘tip’ or ‘step’ really should take place before you start your home search process.

As we’ve mentioned before, getting pre-approved is one of many steps that will show home sellers that you are serious about buying, and will allow you to make your offer with the confidence of knowing that you have already been approved for a mortgage for that amount. You will also need to know if you are prepared to make any repairs that may need to be made to the house (ex: new roof, new furnace).

2. Act Fast

“Even though there are fewer investors, the inventory of homes for sale is also low and competition for housing continues to heat up in many parts of the country.”

According to the latest Existing Home Sales Report, the inventory of homes for sale is currently at a 3.6-month supply; This is well below the 6-month supply that is needed for a ‘normal’ market. Buyer demand has continued to outpace the supply of homes for sale, causing buyers to compete with each other for their dream homes.

Make sure that as soon as you decide that you want to make an offer, you work with your agent to present it as soon as possible.

3. Make a Solid Offer

Freddie Mac offers this advice to help make your offer the strongest it can be:

“Your strongest offer will be comparable with other sales and listings in the neighborhood. A licensed real estate agent active in the neighborhoods you are considering will be instrumental in helping you put in a solid offer based on their experience and other key considerations such as recent sales of similar homes, the condition of the house and what you can afford.”

Consider ways of making your offer stand out! Many buyers write a personal letter to the seller letting them know how much they would love to be the new homeowners. Your agent will be able to help you figure out if there are any other ways your offer could stand out above the rest.

4. Be Prepared to Negotiate

“It’s likely that you’ll get at least one counteroffer from the sellers so be prepared. The two things most likely to be negotiated are the selling price and closing date. Given that, you’ll be glad you did your homework first to understand how much you can afford.

Your agent will also be key in the negotiation process, giving you guidance on the counteroffer and making sure that the agreed-to contract terms are met.”

If your offer is approved, Freddie Mac urges you to “always get an independent home inspection, so you know the true condition of the home.” If the inspection uncovers undisclosed problems or issues, you can discuss any repairs that may need to be made, with the seller, or cancel the contract.

Bottom Line 

Whether buying your first home or your fifth, having a local professional on your side who is an expert in their market is your best bet to make sure the process goes smoothly. Give me a call and we’ll make it happen – J.P. Cook – 602-320-4253.

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2 Baths

1,218 SqFt

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6895 N 79th Place Scottsdale, AZ 85250

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2,026 SqFt

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4 Beds

2.5 Baths

3,080 SqFt

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20951 E Via Del Sol Street Queen Creek, AZ 85142

$627,777

4 Beds

3 Baths

2,222 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6729504

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

WOW- PRICE REDUCED $7,500. IN ADDITION, SELLER CONSESSION AVAILABLE TOWARDS CC OR RATE BUYDOWN with Rates As Low As 3.875% when Financing Thru Builder's Preferred Lender(s). Located close to Queen Creek Marketplace Shopping, Dining & Entertainment, this Community has Parks, Soccer Field, Basketball Courts, & 8-Mile Walking Trail. This Beautiful Cul-de-sac home has Primary Suite & Bedroom 4 on Lower Level with 2 Bedrooms Up! White Shaker 42'' Cabinets with Gourmet Stainless Gas Cooktop, Double Wall Ovens w/Microwave. Quartz Kitchen Countertop, Tiled Kitchen Backsplash, Tiled Extended Shower at Primary Bath, Plank Tile Flooring, Stainless Side-by-side Refrigerator, Washer, Dryer & Window Blinds Included! Don't Wait, Come See This Home Today

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$627,500

2 Beds

2.5 Baths

2,910 SqFt

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Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

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$627,100

4 Beds

2.5 Baths

3,368 SqFt

Status Active

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Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

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7683 W Avenida Del Rey -- Peoria, AZ 85383

$626,940

4 Beds

3 Baths

2,219 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6680063

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

Brand new community in North Peoria! Stunning 4 bedroom/ Guest Retreat / 3 full bath home with 2.5 car tandem garage located at the Retreat at Aloravita. This home includes professionally designed features and finishes. The kitchen includes beautiful white quartz countertops, tile backsplash, stainless steel gas appliances and white shaker style cabinets. Upgraded woodplank style tile flooring. Cultured marble tops at baths. 8' doors with upgraded hardware and the home is ''Energy Star'' for remarkable comfort, energy efficiency and environmental sustainability.

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