Negotiating

Do-it-yourselfer’s guide to choosing a price

I have been talking about market analysis and how asking prices are unreliable. As some of you mentioned, a lot of the data I use is public. For the do-it-yourselfers, here is the next set of questions that come to mind before making an offer. Good buyer’s agents ask these, and some others: Local trends:

By |2016-12-28T14:01:15-05:00May 8th, 2013|Categories: House Hunting, Negotiating|

The fiction of asking prices

One of the biggest mistakes you can make, as a buyer, it to try to negotiate based on an asking price. Some asking prices reflect the market value, plus a little for negotiation. Some are just a fantasy that the seller wants to try. Below is the market history of a real house. I have

By |2013-05-06T11:49:14-04:00May 6th, 2013|Categories: House Hunting, Negotiating|

Bidding wars, for beginners II

Rona Fischman reporting: I work with some very bright, very successful people, who are rightfully frustrated with the current seller’s market. Shun those who treat you badly. Keep a rational eye on what you are buying and under what conditions. (Republished from my stint at Boston. com ) Today, I would like to remind you

By |2016-12-28T14:01:15-05:00April 26th, 2013|Categories: House Hunting, Negotiating|

Are Happy Days Here again? Not for buyers.

A Skeptical Look at those singing “Happy Days are Here Again.” Realtors® far and wide are singing “Happy Days are Here Again.” I’m not. Increased demand and limited supply is not good for my clients, the buyers. So my song is “Ain't Nothin' Gonna Break my Stride”  (Ain't nothin' gonna to break my stride. Nobody's

By |2016-12-28T14:01:15-05:00January 21st, 2013|Categories: House Hunting, Negotiating|

The home inspection

Rona Fischman reporting The home inspection contingency is in the Offer to Purchase contract to protect buyers from purchasing a house with major unknown defects. The phrasing on the contract allows the buyer to cancel the contract (walk away) if there is more than $X in structural, mechanical or other defects. I put $1000 in

By |2012-10-15T09:51:05-04:00October 15th, 2012|Categories: Negotiating|

Comparative market analysis.

Reprinted, with additions, from Boston.com Real Estate Now (April 2009.)* Rona Fischman wrote: Em3's comment is from March 30, 2009 chat: em3’s comment: as buyers, we are refusing to pay top dollar for homes that aren't worth it, (i.e. house needs gut job, rehab, school system is only ok, etc.) What if we see a

By |2021-02-03T12:04:46-05:00September 24th, 2012|Categories: House Hunting, Negotiating|

Don’t fence me out

Friends, Broker, Homesellers: lend me your house. by Ron Rothenberg, 4 Buyers Real Estate Usually the buyers I work for have a bit of time. If we can't see a house one day, we'll see it the next, though frequently we just move on and never see the houses that were unavailable on the first

By |2012-04-18T22:55:59-04:00April 18th, 2012|Categories: House Hunting, Negotiating, Ron|

Bidding wars, for beginners

By Rona Fischman The national seller’s market doesn’t mean a thing to buyers who have been picking through leftovers for the past four months. To the buyers who I saw swarming open houses, I say “Just Say ‘No’ to Bidding Wars.”  Or if you are saying ‘yes,’ to a bidding war, know what you are

By |2016-12-28T14:01:16-05:00March 27th, 2012|Categories: House Hunting, Negotiating|

I believe in real estate karma

I believe in real estate karma. Do you? I have seen it over and over. Here is the happy ending to a hard house-hunt: The home was a small Colonial on a quiet street. It was being sold by an elderly woman, with the help of her children. My buyers found out that they were

By |2016-12-28T14:01:19-05:00September 6th, 2011|Categories: House Hunting, Negotiating|