These types of homes are selling WAY over the asking price... (2024)

FAQs

Why do houses sell above the asking price? ›

The reason homes are sold far over list price "comes down to inventory," Bachaud said. "When there are more homes on the market for each buyer to consider, that eases the competitive pressure for each home."

There are circ*mstances when it's possible for an offer below the asking price to be accepted. This usually occurs in a buyer's market, especially when a property has been on the market for a long time.

Offers typically need to exceed at least 1 to 3 percent over list price when there are multiple competing buyers. “It's not unheard of in these situations to see the winning bid come in thousands over list price,” says Philip Kranefuss, head of Real Estate in Colorado with Homie.

A seller's market – a market condition in which there are less homes available than there are buyers looking to purchase – motivates buyers to be willing to spend more money than they would otherwise. This is why the shortage of housing in a seller's market can often lead to bidding wars.

The amount you may want to reduce your home's asking price depends on many factors, including the median price in your area, what comparable homes nearby are selling for and the length of time the home has been on the market. According to a Zillow study, the average price cut is 2.9 percent of the list price.

You may be wondering, however, when it comes to a competitive housing market, “How much over asking price should I offer?” The answer: You may have to go at least 5 percent to 10 percent over the asking price — especially if you're looking in a hot neighborhood or a city where a lot of people are looking to live.

A home seller can always reject an offer that they don't think reflects the value of their real property. Even if the offer is above the listing price, the seller has the legal right to deny the offer and accept a higher sale price.

Dropping an offer this low is justified if the home needs extensive repairs to bring it up to code or make it livable. If the property has problems like roof damage, plumbing and electrical issues or foundation problems, it may be reasonable to offer 20% below the asking price.

“The rule I've always followed is to never go more than 25% below the listed price,” he says. “Chances are, after fees, commission, and sentimental value, the sellers are already hurting. If you dip below that point, they may disregard your offer entirely.”

Is it rude to offer below asking price? ›

A low offer may be upsetting to the sellers, but if you and your real estate agent present the offer along with an expression of your appreciation for the property, it's more likely to be accepted than a low offer accompanied by a half-complete contract or an insult about the property's condition.

In some cases, offering more than the asking price can be a safe and secure move that helps you attract a seller's attention. In other cases, you could end up in hot water when it comes to carrying your mortgage. These are some of the circ*mstances in which offering more than the listing price will be beneficial.

Well, that's not the case. Securing the winning bid on a house isn't always as straightforward as accepting the highest dollar amount. In our experience, there have been countless scenarios where the highest offer wasn't the one accepted by the seller—This is because the highest offer isn't always the strongest buyer.

It is quite possible that if your mortgage payment ranges up to 30-35% of your income, you will still be alright. But if 40% of your household income goes to pay your mortgage, then you could be in really big trouble. This isn't always the case, but it is often the case.

Make Their Offer Stand Out

This is why some buyers start by offering above the asking price from the beginning. If a buyer knows that a particular area or type of home is in high demand, an above-asking price offer can get a seller's attention and make them look past offers that they already have.

Can a seller counter a full-price offer? Yes. Imagine a situation where the seller got multiple full-price offers and is setting up for a bidding war. That seller might counter all of the appealing full-price offers, asking each suitor for a best and final bid, or request a specified higher price.

The Bid is the price that a buyer is willing to pay for the stock. This price is almost always lower than the Ask. The Ask is the price the seller is willing to sell the stock for. In a perfect world, we would be able to buy the stock at the Bid price, but that's rarely possible.

The rule of thumb is usually between 5 and 10 percent of the home price. Bear in mind that you could lose the money if the deal falls through, so it's important not to put up so much that you'd be ruined if you lost the cash.