You just can't help being influenced by the media reports that the market is slow, homes are sitting unsold, that it's a buyers market, and anything can be bought for a minimum 20% below the listing price.  While it's certainly true that overpriced homes, or even some homes priced just at the top of market value, can sit on the market...the reality is that things are starting to move and that there is so much pent up demand that when a well priced home in a desirable neighborhood comes along....be ready for multiple counters.  I submitted 4 offers toward the end of last week of which 3 were over the asking price and here I am blogging about it instead of opening escrows.  I thought that an email from one of the listing agents (on my offer that was over list price) pretty well summed up the shift in the market. This shift may be temporary but it certainly dispells the media myth to go in low and get a deal....regardless of the asking price.

"We ended up with 12 offers, the last one arriving as I was walking out the door to meet with the wife seller ....3 offers were in the 700K+ range and one offer was All Cash. Of all the offers, one was significantly better in both price and terms than all others, and the sellers are inclined to go with that one. We are planning to Counter some of the offers to see if anyone wants to be in the BackUp position."

So much for a slow market.....

 Keith Kyle is a licensed Realtor and e-Pro with South Bay Brokers in Manhattan Beach.  He serves his clients throughout the South Bay and his websites KeithKyleHomes.com and FindYourSouthBayHome.comoffer the most comprehensive real estate websites in the South Bay with free MLS access, current home listings, open houses, recent home sales information and more.  Keith can be reached at 310-251-2344 or by email at info@KeithKyleHomes.com