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SMART Buying in a Sellers Market

Wednesday, March 22, 2017   /   by Kevin Schumacher

SMART Buying in a Sellers Market

The Northern Colorado market has been deemed a seller's market. This has buyers, especially new buyers, feeling as if they are out of luck to purchase a home in this fast paced, HOT market!


How to buy a home in a seller's market


Still historic low interest rates, rising rental prices and job growth are causing more people to look towards home ownership. The biggest challenge being a buyer in a seller's market is the lack of inventory available on the market. We have been experiencing this for some time now in the Northern Colorado market, but buyers will feel the heat of the competition even more as we approach spring.




Prepare


Get pre-approved early


The very first thing you want to do when you are considering purchasing a home is to reach out to a lender and get pre-approved. If you don’t know where to start with reaching out to a lender, look online for reviews or talk to a local agent. Each lender is different. Some lenders are specially qualified in loan assistance programs that can help you save money. An example of this would be Colorado’s down assistance program CHFA that as of March 1st will help cover 4% of your downpayment.


Prepare for multiple offers on the home you want


Everyone wants the best price possible when purchasing a home. When people see the listing price of a home, naturally we wonder what can we really get this house for. Offering lower than asking price can be a reasonable strategy in some situations, but not all. In this market where are are having shortages of inventory and this had led to multiple offers on pretty much every single home that we sell. Competition is fierce and you should prepare yourself for multiple offers on the home you fell in love with.


Know you may have to make quicker decisions


Buying a home is a complex decision and is not something that should be taken lightly, but when you are in a sellers market over-analyzing and dragging your feet on putting an offer on a property can be the difference between having your offer on the table first and being next in line to buy. Know that in a sellers market you will need to make quicker decisions. Now by no means does this mean take the first home that you see, but it does mean that you will need to think quick on your feet with decisions.




Overall, work with an agent


Buying in a sellers market without the help of a buying agent is difficult. In a sellers market you need to have an agent that is truly working for you and applying their expertise in any way they can.  If you have a great agent they will understand both parties of sale to know what that specific ‘something’ will guarantee your offer is more appealing to the sellers among competition.


Coming soon listings


Working with a well-known agent that has a record of high sales volume will give you access to their coming soon listings. Agents that are at the top of their game will be in contact with several potential sellers who are getting a few things in order before launching their home on the market. Working with an agent will give you access to these exclusive listings that you otherwise wouldn’t know about.


MLS databases


Agents have access to homes that have just been listed. Working with an agent will give you access to these homes so that you are quick to the trigger when setting up a showing and potentially having the first offer on the table.


Contract clauses


Working with a veteran agent will give you extra arsenal to your offer. This extra something could be an escalation clause that lays out how much more you are willing to pay over competing offers. Great agents will have tricks up their selves that will highlight your offer among the competition.


Negotiation


Beyond making your offer stand out above another, your agent will be able to work out what will be the best outcome for you as their client. There may be additional ways in which they can help you such as cost deferrals and strict inspection negotiation to guarantee you are making a smart deal. Working with an agent through this process


Agents know what to look for


Working with an agent that has an established business for some time is beneficial when sellers have the advantage. Agents know how to spot deficiencies in a house or property that you may not have noticed on your own up front. They can help you to quickly decipher if a home you are looking should be skipped and on to the next.


Beyond knowing what to look for inside a home agents who have an established business for some time know the ins and outs of the market. They will be able to direct you towards neighborhoods and communities that will not only satisfy your wants and needs, but something that will appreciate in value over time.


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The Kevin Schumacher Team @ eXp Realty
2580 East Harmony Rd. Suite 201
Fort Collins, CO 80528
720-230-3030

Information and Real Estate Services, LLC. Provided for limited non-commercial use only under IRES Rules. © 2020 IRES. Listing information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed by the MLS or eXp Realty LLC. *Not intended to solicit buyers under buyers agency, not intended to solicit listings currently listed.*The statements and opinions contained in this advertisement are solely those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect the positions or opinions of eXp Realty, LLC, or its subsidiaries or affiliates (the “Company”). The Company does not assume any responsibility for, nor does it warrant the accuracy, completeness or quality of the information provided.
Information and Real Estate Services, LLC. Provided for limited non-commercial use only under IRES Rules. © 2025 IRES. Listing information is provided exclusively for consumers' personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties consumers may be interested in purchasing. Data last updated February 19, 2025 9 AM. Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed by the MLS or Kevin Schumacher - The Kevin Schumacher Team / EXP Realty, LLC.
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