How Much to Offer
Determining your offering price can be influenced by a number of factors. Market conditions, personal factors affecting you
and the seller (if known), and factors directly
effecting the property and neighborhood may all play a role.
Market considerations
Market
conditions broadly effect the price level of homes. These
conditions are external to the property, yet greatly influence your
offering price.
In a seller's market, competition for homes is high and
property values may be increasing. Under these circumstances, expect to
pay a premium price for the home. Listen to your agent's advice
regarding what to offer. Offering full- or over full-price in
a seller's market is not unusual.
Conversely, in a buyer's market, competition for homes is low
and property values may be level or decreasing. Offering less than
full-price is the norm under these circumstances.
In the ideal market (a market in equilibrium), demand for and
supply of housing are in balance, and neither buyer nor seller is
disadvantaged by market conditions.
Property-specific (internal or local) considerations
Property-specific
considerations are more easily quantified compared to the market
considerations discussed previously. The number of bedrooms, bathrooms, square feet, lot
size, etc., are examples of these.
Prior to making your offer, you'll need to
compare the home with others in the neighborhood. This is done
with the aid of a Competitive Market Analysis (CMA). Your real estate agent should provide one prior to writing the
offer to purchase. (A complete appraisal is normally not necessary until
after your offer is accepted.) The CMA contains most
of the information found in the Property Comparison form, with additional information including:
- Date listed
- Date sold
- Sale price
- Number of days on the market
- Financing
- Expired listings (date listed, price, date expired)
- Properties for sale (date listed, price)
The CMA should provide a comparison
of properties similar to the property you're considering purchasing.
In a stable market, sold homes are the best indicators of market
value. Homes for sale can be expected to set the high end of the
market, and expired listings indicate prices too high for the
market.