We experienced a huge number of buyers the first 20 days of June. It was a crazy rush to buy. COVID-19 seemed to be subsiding and it was a race to secure a home in the Florida area as quickly as possible. So how can you make sure that the offer you submit is the one that is accepted?

You have worked with a Realtor^® to scour the listings, toured what feels like a million houses and finally found it: the house you want to call home. The next step is to make your purchase offer, and if you are like most people, the prospect can be quite intimidating. In a seller’s market, there can be even more pressure on the buyer to submit an impressive bid.

I am not clear we are in a seller’s market, however when home prices are a bit higher and inventory is lower,” this means you are more likely competing with multiple bidders. In a competitive market like this, buyers need every advantage they can get, and working with a Realtor^® to make “the best purchase offer is a smart move.” And, believe it or not, the bid with the highest price is not always the one that wins.”

“Of course, sellers want to get the best price for their home, but that isn’t always the deciding factor,” “Eliminating or reducing the number of contingencies with your bid, through things like pre-offer inspections, can also help make your offer stronger. The bid that causes the least amount of hassle for the seller is the one that will probably win.”

That does not mean, however, that you should just submit a below market offer with no contingencies. “This is not the time to make a low ball offer,” when you are going up against more than one potential buyer, it’s the time to put your best foot forward.” This might be your one chance to convince the owner to sell their home to you, so it’s more important to submit your best possible purchase offer.”    

If you can pay cash for your home, chances are your bid will be accepted. Sellers’ appreciate all-cash offers as they usually mean a quick, streamlined purchase. Financing issues, such as delays in mortgage approval or getting funds moved from the buyer’s bank account, are the primary causes of delays in the closing process. If a seller can avoid a lengthy or complicated process by choosing an all-cash buyer, they likely will.  

For most people, however, a cash offer is not a possibility, and you’ll need to qualify for some variety of mortgage financing. If this is your situation, it is recommended, that the buyer get a pre-approved document for a mortgage before you begin the search process. “With loan pre-approval, you’ll be able to make a fairly comfortable commitment to buy, and your offer will be more appealing to the seller!” To make this a more powerful offer, provide an “approved mortgage document from your lender that specifies an amount not to exceed a certain value. This can also be very tricky and the most important thing that you can do to give yourself an advantage is to hire a Realtor. “we have real insight and unparalleled knowledge of the local market and can help you navigate the complicated home buying process!”