Anonymous wrote:My agent took this into accouny when telling me how much the offer is for. Even the comps sheet from the realtor take the closing cost assurance into account when showing actual Selling price. And I also assumed it meant the buyer didn't have enough cash on hand. I was proven right when they needed to add a cosigner to their loan.

How do you know what they added to their loan?

Tell me what info you have access to before I buy another house so I will know. I bought from Uncle Sam so that is different.

Our buyer asked us for $10K in closing in addition to offering us $15K under asking. We met her halfway and said you decide if you want some of that to go to closing or not.

My agent took this into accouny when telling me how much the offer is for. Even the comps sheet from the realtor take the closing cost assurance into account when showing actual Selling price. And I also assumed it meant the buyer didn't have enough cash on hand. I was proven right when they needed to add a cosigner to their loan.

Anonymous wrote:I got it a few years ago. The reason is it was a condo building and the seller was trying to get rid of a few units in the same building. Paying half of closing costs meant he could still keep the sale price the same as asking price (even if the net was lower), which gave him a better position when selling the other units.

actually no, since any reasonable agent when showing you the comps will say it sold for "x" but the closing cost help made it "y".... and yes, asking for help, is like saying I can't afford the house in the first place...

I got it a few years ago. The reason is it was a condo building and the seller was trying to get rid of a few units in the same building. Paying half of closing costs meant he could still keep the sale price the same as asking price (even if the net was lower), which gave him a better position when selling the other units.

No. And as a seller, I know what it is - a not full price offer, but I'm supposed to pay commission on the whole thing. The market would have to be pretty bad for me to consider it.

No, but we were credited most of it back after requesting repairs based on home inspection. This was for an as-is house.

I got 100% covered

We did. In June. Got $22K.

The year 2009 called, insert joke here

Only ask for closing cost help if you need it, and if there is a bidding war be prepared for the seller to assume that your financial position is less solid than that of someone who does not ask for closing costs.

Are you just trying to nominally put in a full price offer but really get a price reduction? If so I'd just put in an offer for __ less than the list price. Trying to be sneaky with closing costs is just silly. What really matters to the seller is how much money they get, not whether they get an offer that is technically for list but really isn't.

The seller pays the realtors fees which us most likely in excess of 35k. Do you think it is wise to ask them to pay a portion of your closing costs?

Yep (and in hot neighborhood in DC). It wasn't all closing cost but half.

What does your realtor say? What is the market like? Some neighborhoods in DC and DC metro area are so hot that it would definitely be a bad idea. But if the house has been on the market for a while it could work.

Putting in offer at full price in close in neighborhood in md. Would it be stupid to ask for help with closing costs?