As the buying season begins, I want to help some buyers understand the implications of the season.  For buyers that have been looking for 3-5 months and have found themselves negotiating their contracts AWAY from a sale, they should know that things are going to get worse.  There will soon be far more buyers than there were just a month ago.  You'll have stiffer competition and sellers will be less likely to give way on their asking prices.  Sure, you'll be able to talk them down, but any upper hand that you may have had in the winter is gone in the spring and summer.  Am I just telling you this so that I can burst your bubble and rain on your parade?  No.  I'm telling you this because I hate seeing people loose their dream home over a couple thousand dollars that they're trying to negotiate with the seller.  A couple thousand dollars in your mortgage is going to be about $30/month, if that.  So put your pride aside and stop pretending you're in Tiajuana.  Offer a competitively low price.  Take what you can get, then, move into the house that you love.  If you didn't love it, you wouldn't be bidding on it.  I just saw a friend of mine loose her dream home to another buyer because she was trying to negotiateanother  $4,000 out of the asking price and someone else swooped in and gave a better offer.  I feel bad for her.  I just don't want to see it happen to other people too. 

Have a great day and a fun time bidding.  I wish you all the best of luck and a house that you can call your home.

Abe