Special offer

Are sellers finally taking a stance and saying NO MORE? Enough is enough?

By
Industry Observer with No longer practicing real estate as of 2008.

I am hearing stories of more and more sellers that are finally putting their foot down and saying NO MORE!  We are not lowering our prices down anymore and we aren't considering any low-ball offers!  I've had a couple of my buyers submit offers that were low because they wanted to see how motivated the seller was and the sellers refused to even counter, they just rejected the offer.

I think many sellers have finally had it and think enough is enough! 

Take a look at the stats below of what has sold so far this year in Manatee County.  Look at the average sold price.  Not going down anymore is it?  Other than the spike is March, prices haven't come down.  That right there should be a wake up call don't you think?

Jan 2007 
# of Single Family Homes SOLD = 128 
Average SOLD price = $347,200

Feb 2007
# of Single Family Homes SOLD = 179 
Average SOLD price = $354,732

March 2007
# of Single Family Homes SOLD = 209
Average SOLD price = $399,378

April 2007
# of Single Family Homes SOLD = 221
Average SOLD price = $367,482

May 2007
# of Single Family Homes SOLD = 225
Average SOLD price = $368,689

(stats are deemed to be accurate, but not guaranteed)

I think there are still a handful of sellers out there that do need to sell and will look at a low offer, but I think for the most part, sellers are holding firm.  Many feel like they have lowered their prices enough and they are going to hold firm at where they are currently at.

What do you think?  Is the same thing happening in your area?  Are your sellers saying the same thing?

*The above information is Copyright © 2007 Becky Troutt and may not be copied, reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed or published.  All rights reserved.  Plagiarism will be detected and is punishable by law.

Comments(8)

MAUREEN STACCATO
Springfield, MA
Yes I'm experiencing the same thing here too but unfortunately, the market is changing and if the homes in the area are say for example 10K lower than your home, well some kind of adjustment has to be made or you will sit on the market.
Jun 14, 2007 12:15 AM
Joshua Jarvis
Virtual Properties - Atlanta Real Estate - Duluth, GA
Moving Families Forward.

In my area, the same is happening, but then those sellers go into foreclosure.  It should be remembered that Sellers do not make the market, the market makes itself.  As long as there are other sellers there, then they will sit.

My problem with Floridians is that they seem unrealistic.  They bought the home for 150K it went up to $500K 2 years ago, and now they are upset about a "loss" at $390K ? 

Jun 14, 2007 12:16 AM
MAUREEN STACCATO
Springfield, MA
The Florida market had gone crazy since hurricane season 3 years ago. I used to live in Florida and I know you were able to buy a home for a reasonable price- then when Melbourne got leveled- seems like the prices of home went threw the roof!!! Many homeowners are still not been satisfied with the insurance claims either. Homeowner insurance must be outrageous there now!
Jun 14, 2007 12:20 AM
Becky Troutt
No longer practicing real estate as of 2008. - Bradenton, FL

Yes Maureen, homeowners insurance is crazy here right along with the tax mess.

Joshua, I agree sellers do not make the market to a point.  If they all start holding firm and telling the buyers no, then prices will stop coming down.  on the other hand if the buyer refuse to pay the sellers asking price because they feel the sellers should still come down more, then the war is on. 

It becomes a war of who is going to budge first.  The buyer or the seller?  I wish I had a crystal ball!  LOL...

Jun 14, 2007 12:26 AM
Judy Cicalese
William Raveis Real Estate - New Canaan, CT
Market Knowledge-Social Media Savvy 203-638-7812
We're seeing pages of price reductions here in CT, still some unrealistic sellers but for the most part - Seller's have adjusted as well.  I think the Buyers are the ones who are really pushing now and they're low balling like I've never seen. 
Jun 14, 2007 12:46 AM
Becky Troutt
No longer practicing real estate as of 2008. - Bradenton, FL

Low-balling is right.  Some are going to extremes with their offers.  I think many are still hoping for that one last desperate seller so they can get a great deal.  I don't know how many more of those are left.  There are still a lot of good deals, but not as many great deals as there were.

Meanwhile the low-ballers risk losing some of those good deals while trying to find that one great deal.

Many people are still stuck on what they paid for the home several years ago.  It doesn't matter what they paid for it.  It matters what it is worth today, right now. 

Jun 14, 2007 01:59 AM
Terry Haugen STAGE it RIGHT! 321-956-2495
Stage it Right! - Melbourne, FL

Hi Becky, as far as I know, NOTHING is moving here in Brevard County.  The builders built so many spec homes, they are lowballing the homeowners with price and upgrades and the nomeowners can't compete so their houses sit on the market month after month. 

Terry Haugen - STAGE it RIGHT!

Jun 14, 2007 12:52 PM
Becky Troutt
No longer practicing real estate as of 2008. - Bradenton, FL
We were in that spot last year Terry, where NOTHING was moving.  The builders also did slash prices and it killed the resales, but it seems to have leveled off and seems to be both resales and new construction are starting to move again.
Jun 15, 2007 01:49 AM