Every residential real estate transaction is negotiable in varying degrees relative to the local housing market conditions. While it is true that the homeowner sets the asking price, it is the home buyer that truly determines the home’s value. Why? Because a home is only worth what a ready, willing and financially able buyer will […]
What Response Can I Expect After Making an Offer?
What response can I expect after making an offer on an Austin home? There are 5 possible reactions from the seller when your Austin buyer’s agent presents your offer. #1: The Seller Can Formally Reject Your Offer The seller or their agent can inform you that your offer is unacceptable and the seller will not […]
Does the Seller Have to Give a Buyer a Counter Offer
Does the seller have to give a buyer a counter offer? The short answer is no. The seller is under no obligation to respond in any shape, manner or form. Is it smart for a home seller not to respond even if the offer was very low? No. But is it in their right to […]
How to Effectively Negotiate Closing Costs in a Sellers Market
It’s no secret the Austin real estate market is booming. Buyers are having to make more concessions than sellers, and many buyers think sellers will make absolutely no concessions for them. In practice, it is not as one sided as you might think. Though we are still in a seller’s market, buyers are still able […]
Using Price Per Square Foot When Determining Home Value
Attempting to measure a home’s true market value using a price per square foot calculation is more often confusing, misleading and quite possibly deceptive. Using price per square foot as a valuation tool is a little like predicting the local high and low temperatures by using a national weather temperature averages. But, even with its […]
5 Most Expensive First Time Home Buyer Mistakes
Let’s agree, buying a home can be emotional, unnerving and bewilderingly complex; avoiding the most expensive first time home buyer mistakes will make it less so. Here you’ll find the five most expensive mistakes Austin first time home buyers make and some tips for how to avoid making them in your home search. Mistake #1: […]
What is a Seller Looking for in a Multiple Offer Situation?
As we head into the busy Spring home buying season in Austin, we’re starting to see more multiple offers. As the season progresses, I would expect to see more. Buyers who want to eliminate the frustration of losing a home to another buyer need a carefully thought out multiple offer strategy. To be successful, the […]
When It Comes to Home Buying, My Dad Had The Best Negotiation Advice
Best Negotiation Advice While haggling may be commonplace around the world, save for country fairs, open markets and occasional trips abroad, it is a skill not commonly utilized by Americans. While it is true that during those trips to the Moroccan souk, we gleefully delight in bringing the cost of an item down to half […]
How Long Does it Take to Close a Home in Austin
With the new TRID lending and disclosure requirements, it is taking longer to close a home in Austin. In some parts of the country, we’re hearing it is taking double the time it took before the new disclosure rules went into effect. Just how long does it take in Austin to close on a home? […]
6 Ways to Get Your Offer Accepted in a Competitive Market
Even in this holiday season, Austin’s housing market is still very active. A spiking increase in population coupled with a strong job market and low interest rates is making home buying very, very competitive. The best homes sell quickly and sometimes with multiple offers. So, just how does a serious home buyer stand out from […]