You clearly don’t comprehend the market. Listing a house at the price you think it will go for, based on comps, is a dumb idea. Appraisals have not yet reliably caught up with sale prices. There needs to be wiggle room between list price and offer price to make room for things like appraisal delta that needs to be built into a competitive offer. People bidding at list price at top of their budget are simply not going to get the house. |
DP. Depends on the area. Is there some reason to think that comps from November 2021 are inaccurate for winter 2021/2022? The appraisal gap is a different issue entirely. I’m looking in northern Arlington and home prices are down ~3% November 2021 compared to November 2020. |
DP but I don’t know if you have looked at the market stats well (or recent) enough. I’m coming from a much more competitive market and am amazed that many many houses in the DC suburbs (not looking at proper) go for list price or slightly below even. This isn’t spring 2020, the market has changed drastically. Where I’m coming from, comps are meaningless. The DC area is a pretty standard market and yes if it’s priced according to comps it seems to sell for that. |
Your view of the housing market is very outdated, like at least 10 years. But at this point, demand has outstripped supply for many years and the problem has escalated, especially post-recession. So, now, any house that is in reasonable move-in condition in a part of the region that is at least moderately popular, will most likely sell over list and list is a starting point for competition. The only houses that fit your description in the last 10 years are houses that have some issues for selling, be it an undesirable location, a traffic issue (busy road, intersection, near rail lines, etc) a house defect, needing a lot of work, etc. For those houses, list is the asking price. But what you know as historical RE buying conditions hasn't existed for a long time. You are doin a disservice to first-time buyers like OP, by telling them to stick to their guns and hope for someone who is selling based on 2005 RE practices. |
That’s not always true. |
+1 Like at all. |
Arlington is down 3%, we are looking there has it dropped more? |
That is what the market will bear. |
That’s why escalation clauses are child’s play. |
OP back. Happy to report got my 6th offer was accepted at seller’s asking price. Just got through negotiating repairs and got a $7500 credit from sellers! Very happy with deal and LOVE the home & neighborhood!! |
Good for you! you made it. |
Which neighborhood? We are also feeling despair… missed out on 2 perfect houses so far. |
Just wait until DC schools are closed again, the economic effects of the vaccine mandate are felt, and office workers still aren’t back to work downtown...then you should buy. Not now. DC is in for a major correction unless covid is over after omicron. |
Do you like everything else about it? May be worth dealing with given the market these last few years. |
...and now the rates are way up. I just looked today and saw 3.875.... was offered 2.875 earlier this year. On a 800k house that's an extra $400 a month! I just got priced out |