If the Price Isn’t Right

A real estate agent has shown you a house that you like a lot. There is only one problem–the price seems too high. In a situation like this, you can still make an offer that you feel is appropriate.

The real estate agent cannot tell you how much to offer, but he or she can give you information about the selling prices of similar homes in the area. The agent will present your offer to the sellers. They have three choices–they can accept, reject, or counter your offer.

If the house is a new listing, or if your offer is very low, they may decide to hold out for something better. Sellers frequently build a little negotiating room into their asking price. Prices that are not negotiable at the beginning of a listing period may become flexible as time goes on. If you want to test the sellers’ flexibility, make them an offer.