Not much new where I am looking

I was just on realtor and trulia and there seem to be a lot!

I agree! Three houses in the 800 - 1 million range just went on the market in Falls Church City. Of course they'll all be under contract in a week or two - so buyers have to be ready to move quickly in this market.

The houses are coming!

In the last week THREE houses on my street have put up signs. I think everyone was waiting for spring.

Agree with PP, lots of people aren't "stretching" to be in a home like they may have years ago assuming price appreciation, they are much more rational.

Low inventory? yes, for several reasons: people are underwater, uncertainty about job security and compensation, risks about general market/economy, high realtor fees with selling & buying, unsure if market has found bottom yet, etc.

As for this thread's price and power tangent, the market will price the home. Not a stubborn seller, and not a stubborn buyer. If you're rational and know the sales comps, your house will sell at any point in time. Remember, the ONLY time you know what your property is worth is when you buy it and when you sell it. Not list price, not your HELOC appraisal, not your prop taxes, but an actual transaction value.
And "fair deal" is always defined as when both sides give up a little/take a little and walk away not happy, not sad, but with a sense of fairness.

I think there is less turnover for a lot of reasons. We're staying in our home, which is very much the perfect "starter home," for much longer than we would have imagined originally. Just more comfortable with the low mortgage (payment and balance), and can make it work with a child due to good organization and lots of parks and things to do nearby. The house is now cozy and nicely decorated, and there would be little benefit to us to go to the hassle of moving and paying realtor's fees for a "move up" house in this same area, that would have more bedrooms but be less charming than our current place.

People have less equity to move up, more uncertainty, feel better about being more comfortable financially and less stretched, no incentive to move up since real estate won't be going up in leaps and bounds again in our lifetime, feel comfortable with more equity in the home if the market drops, etc.

Anonymous wrote:?
Since when
This thread was started by someone complaining the they cannot find that that they want for much less money than what they are for sale

unless somewhere in the 6 pages, the OP talked about price, the post was about inventory being low in general

?
Since when
This thread was started by someone complaining the they cannot find that that they want for much less money than what they are for sale

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Exactly. Sure, the seller can "set" any price they want - but the buyers aren't going to be there is they set it too high and are unwilling to compromise. The sellers AND buyers are tracking recent sales data these days, and a seller should know when they are way above market value.

So if the buyers cannot find a good deal, and after a long search find a house that they like, they are entitled to moan that it is after all for sale, and the seller does not have to accept your offer

that means your house IS NOT really on the market or for sale. and buyers will continue to neglect it until you signal you are actually selling or willing to negotiate.
happens all the time, in resi real estate and in business.
your listing agent will also decrease marketing your home, in fact you may churn through several agents who've figured out you're not really interested in selling.