Don't get me wrong, I like listings.. and as they say, "listers are lasters", but right now, I LOVE BUYERS! At least that is how I am staying busy and I am not being picky either. Actually, my favorite are first time home buyers in this market. Granted, home prices in Vancovuer WA rose by about 30% from 2002 to 2005, but out little ol' town has gotten used to our bustier price range, and have settled into comfort with it. In fact I think that the sellers are holding on to those prices like Linus holds his blanket, hence they are STILL listing high. Either that, or their trusty Real Estate Agent isn't "telling em' like it is" as I joke with my listing clients. They are AWARE that their homes are overpriced,a nd they are aware that they will be accepting a MUCH lower offer than it advertises, but I still can't convince them to reduce their prices significantly enough to entice more shoppers! It is almost as if 'I say it out loud, then everything changes' mentality.

SO - buyers - here is what I am doing! Lets look above yoiur price range! How BOUT THAT! I'd say 10-20% (depending on what we're talking about) ABOVE your price range! HOW BOUT THAT!!! Cuz guess what? That house - yeah, the one listed for 700,000? It can and will close closer to 625. Why?? Lets go do that market analysis - I'll show ya! YUP! Just as I thought - that home is listed at 235 a square foot. MMM HMMM.... you see what I see... all the homes that are selling that are comparable to this one are selling for 30$ less a square foot. Do the math. There is no harm in offering, and with a little love letter attached to the offer... Dear Mr. and Mrs seller - I love your home, however my offer is coming is this low because 10 of your neighbors with the same home and same size lot have sold in the last 6 months for this much less than your asking. ...

Think it will work? It does. AND you can't forget that the almighty appraiser is going to see the same homes you ran YOUR comparables with. (hmmm.. lsiting gents... are we asking our sellers for independent appraisals to find out where they should start listing as opposed to having them get angry and hurt when you tell them professionally that they aren't going to sell their house at the price they are thinking?)

Anyway, my point to this whole blog is this... until sellers realize what has happened in our market and either hold on to their homes if they can or reduce their prices - buyers have the upper hand and can look a little above what they think they can. It is by far my favorite thing to say - I can help you get this home what YOU can afford. Let me how you how, and let's do it. Buyers LOVE IT!

 Well... until prices start coming down... then my whole theory gets all blown up!