Page 2 - Van Wig & Associates, Alamitos Heights ~ January 2020 Issue
P. 2

home prices
                            YOUR MONEY


































































                                 FEWER HOMEBUYERS STUCK PAYING


                                 ABOVE THE ASKING PRICE







                                by Carla Fried                                                                               What is the most recent comparable
                                                                    “…understanding the current                              sale price? How is the local economy?
                                      or homebuyers and sellers,                                                             Where are mortgage rates?
                                      the original  list price  is the                                                         As a buyer, knowing the list-to-
          ALAMITOS              Fconversation starter, yet rarely   relationship between list price                          final price ratio is a valuable piece
           HEIGHTS              the final word _ only about 15%                                                              of negotiating intel. If a home is
                                of homes in the largest metro areas
         REAL ESTATE EDGE       sold for the seller’s original asking   and final sale price in your                         reasonably priced and 5% discounts
                                                                                                                             are common, you might make a first
               Publisher        price during 2019’s second quarter,                                                          and final offer with that discount. Or
             Allison Van Wig    according to real estate data firm                                                           if negotiations typically go another
             CA DRE #00985700   CoreLogic.                             market— and in your price                             round in your area, an offer at a
           Cindy Hinderberger      Discounted sale prices occurred                                                           7% to 8% discount gives the seller
             CA DRE #01902607   on 61% of homes sold, CoreLogic                                                              room to negotiate back toward a 5%
                                reported, up from 57% in late 2018.  range—is key to walking away                            markdown.
                                   Tight markets subject to bidding                                                            A 2015 academic paper suggests
                                wars and sale prices above the ask, of   with a deal you feel good about.”                   an intriguing pricing strategy for
                                course, get the most  attention these                                                        sellers. Once you get close to deciding
                                days. And those conditions continue,                                                         on your list price, avoid lots of zeros
            4435 E Village Rd   to varying degrees, in San Francisco.                                                        in the actual list price you settle on. In
          Long Beach, CA 90808  Seattle, Minneapolis, Denver, Boston,  Chicago, Houston, New Orleans and  estate markets here: https://www.rate.  an experiment, researchers found that
                                Los Angeles and Washington D.C.,  Hartford, at least 75% of home sales  com/research.
           562-754-8802         according to CoreLogic data.   are expected to be at a final price that   This is a basic analysis every agent   when a list price was precise rather
          Allison@superbroker.com  But sale prices below the list price  is below the original list price. The  should provide. Recent home sale   than rounded (and slightly higher
           www.SuperBroker.com  were common in Miami (80% of sales  average discount in those markets is  prices for “comparable” nearby homes   than the rounded price) it triggered
                                below list), Chicago and Houston  forecast to be about 5%.    is an important metric, but a good   the least aggressive offers from buyers.
                                (70%) and other major markets.    The cause isn’t a soft market.  agent will also provide information   For example, if you decide
                                Buyers and sellers need to be aware of  Of the aforementioned areas, only  on how that price compares to the   $300,000 is the right list price, the
                                the new reality.               Chicago price gains have failed to  original list price.      research suggests that pricing at a
                                   Another real estate company,  keep pace with inflation over the   As a seller, your must-have price  precise number such as $301,750 will
                                Knock.com, which helps people buy  past year. Some of the markets where  needs to be rooted in current market  get you a higher offer (and ultimate sale
                                and sell with bridge financing, expects  buyers are enjoying strong negotiating  conditions. What you paid  for your  price) than if you start the negotiation
              6425 Busch Blvd.,    discounts to list price to increase in  leverage are also among the best for  home, while intensely important to  at the round figure of $300,000. Of
             Columbus, OH 43229
               877.872.3080     2019’s fourth quarter. Two in three  first-time homebuyers.   you, has absolutely no bearing for  course, if you are planning on buying
             www.DiscoverPubs.com  home sales in the quarter will come in   Whether you are a seller setting  a buyer. Yet many home sellers are  another home, you can use that intel
                                below the list price, and the average  your list price, or a buyer readying  victims of their own “anchoring” bias.  to your advantage; if the list is a round
            Sudoku, Scrabble, Crossword
            and articles distributed by    discount will be near 4%, Knock  a bid, understanding the current  You paid X for the house and won’t  number, don’t be lulled into making
            Tribune News Services and   estimates.             relationship between list price and  sell unless  you can get  X plus. Or  too high an initial offer.
             Brandpoint where noted.   Knock predicts that more than  final sale price in your market—  six months ago, your neighbor sold
             © Copyright 2020 by    80% of home sales in Miami will  and in your price range—is key to  for Y so you are determined to get at   ©2019 Rate.com News.
            Discover Publications, Inc.
              All rights reserved.  come in under the list price, and the  walking away with a deal you feel  least Y. In reality, what you will get   Distributed by Tribune Content
                                average discount will be near 6%. In  good about. You can follow local real  will reflect current market conditions.   Agency, LLC
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