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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4 Beds

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5849 W Monte Cristo Avenue Glendale, AZ 85306

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3 Beds

2 Baths

1,839 SqFt

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20724 W Kaibab Road Buckeye, AZ 85326

$554,999

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2,132 SqFt

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1,624 SqFt

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4024 S 177th Avenue Goodyear, AZ 85338

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5 Beds

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2,530 SqFt

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Price Type --

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15394 W Cottontail Lane Surprise, AZ 85387

$554,990

5 Beds

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$554,990

3 Beds

2 Baths

1,486 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6755152

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

It's the Acacia being built at our newest community of Mystic in Peoria. Barnett Maple Latte cabinets throughout with 42'' kitchen uppers soft close drawers and doors in the kitchen. Wood laminate floor Casita Court with 5'' baseboards and 3 1/4'' door casings in all areas of the home except beds/closets. Large walk in shower at owner's bath with tile on the surrounds and floor. Stainless steel gas appliances including a 30'' cooktop and glass canopy hood. Pavers at drive, walk and entry. Tile in tub & shower surrounds in Bath 2. Amenity Rich Mystic includes a Resort Style community pool, Rec center with year-round events, Hiking paths & community parks. The perfect location- close to shopping, restaurants, golf, Lake pleasant and the loop 303.

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9857 S Los Picos Drive Apache Junction, AZ 85120

Open House

$554,990

4 Beds

3 Baths

2,164 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6779392

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

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$554,990

5 Beds

2 Baths

1,955 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6724780

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

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5054 N 183rd Drive Litchfield Park, AZ 85340

$554,990

3 Beds

2.5 Baths

2,275 SqFt

Status Active Under Contract

MLS # 6765735

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

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242 S 165th Avenue Goodyear, AZ 85338

$554,990

4 Beds

2.5 Baths

2,229 SqFt

Status Active

MLS # 6739790

Property Type Single Family Residence

Price Type --

QUICK MOVE-IN HOME! MOVE INTO YOUR NEW HOME BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS! SPECIAL FINANCING WITH BELOW MARKET INTEREST RATES AVAILABLE! MOVE-IN PACKAGES AVAILABLE! PLEASE INQUIRE ABOUT THESE SPECIALS ON THIS QUICK MOVE-IN HOME AND OTHERS. ACT SOON BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE! It's the stunning Crimson floor plan with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bath. Large storage area in garage. 12'x8' sliding glass door off the extended covered patio. Stainless steel gas appliance package with a 30'' cooktop, wall oven, microwave and canopy hood. Barnette Maple slate (Gray) cabinets throughout the home. AZT Della Terra quartz Linen countertops in kitchen and owner's bath. White single bowl undermount sink in kitchen. Satin nickel hardware. Upgrade flooring includes EMS Riverside Firenza 20x20 in all areas of the home except for beds/closets. Dual sinks in bath 2. Soft water loop, 8' tall garage door opener with two remotes and so much more. Please verify all information with onsite agent. Thank you!

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