4 can’t miss tips to help you win a bidding war and be a competitive buyer

Tight inventory and increased buyer demand is still the story as we come to a close on the first quarter of 2022.

Realtor.com’s latest research shows homes are currently selling at an accelerated pace compared to this same time last year, with the latest findings showing that homes are staying on the market 13 days fewer this year over last year.

Despite fewer days on market further adding to the market crunch, recent data is starting to indicate we may soon be in for some much needed relief, with new listings up 2.1% over last year.

If the trends continue, we’re in for a competitive spring market. Buyers need to be fully prepared and ready to go when the right home comes on the market.

In the market for a home this spring? Arm yourself with these 4 must-know tips to help you make a competitive offer and win a bidding war.

Must-know tip #1:
Get pre-approved

Getting pre-approved is quite possibly the most important step you can take in the beginning of the home buying process. You should do this before you ever step foot in a Realtor’s office and before you even browse for properties online.

Unlike a pre-qualification, which is traditionally an automated review of your credit report, credit score and stated application information, a pre-approval scrutinizes every aspect of your creditworthiness.

A pre-approval determines exactly how much you may borrow under a specific mortgage program. It’s also a great way to distinguish your offer in a highly competitive, low inventory market.

In other words, once you’ve obtained your pre-approval you can shop for homes with confidence! Get pre-approved now and shop for homes with confidence.

Must-know tip #2:
Get your mortgage from a local company

Would it surprise you to find out that shopping locally for a mortgage is actually one of the best things you can do when it comes to having your bid accepted?

“A lot of people think that the highest bid is the one the seller automatically chooses— and ultimately there’s a lot more to it than that,” says Allen Tate Mortgage President, Chris Cope.

“Good Realtors will advise their clients to look beyond the dollar signs of the offer— not that offer price isn’t something that’s important, because it is, it’s just not the only thing sellers should consider,” says Chris. “Just like conditions are important to weigh in the decision process, sellers should also think about whether or not the prospective buyer has been vetted and truly pre-approved by a local lender.”

Having a local lender who understands the market is key, Chris explains. “Having market knowledge enables an underwriter to easily tackle each element involved in going from contract to closing.”

Find a local, experienced mortgage professional with Allen Tate Mortgage today.

Helpful hint #3:
Make a clean offer

Normal contingencies— things like an inspection or available financing— are to be expected and won’t throw the seller off.

On the other hand, attaching too many contingencies to your offer— especially in a seller’s market— could seriously impede your ability to get the offer accepted. Work with your Realtor to decide which contingencies are best to include in your offer.

Related reading: Requesting repairs after a home inspection: What’s acceptable and what’s not?

Helpful hint #4:
Understand the market

In a seller’s market each home for sale may receive multiple offers, due to low home inventory levels. So you’ll need to come to the table with a strong offer or you’ll likely be kicked to the curb fairly quickly.

Fully understanding the market can help you be highly competitive. Your Realtor will work to pull data from recent home sales that match or closely resemble the value of the home you want to purchase. Use this information to make a competitive offer.

Want to get a head-start on gaining market knowledge in a specific area or neighborhood? Sign up for Market Report and keep track of current listings, average list price, days on market and more!

Source: Allen Tate Realtors