How much should you offer for that house?

You've likely heard that everything is negotiable in real estate. That's because buying real estate isn't like shopping at the mall or buying groceries, where you just pay the advertised price. Instead, a real estate buyer can submit an offer for less than the asking price, or more, or even offer the asking price but use other considerations to make their offer more attractive ... and a seller can accept (or reject) any of these offers. Start with a professional The best way to present a strong offer is to work with a Texas REALTOR®. He or she will help you determine your realistic budget before you even start looking, and then use market knowledge and experience to help you arrive at the best offer for a property. In fact, a 2015 consumer survey found that the top three things buyers need from a real estate agent are: help finding the right home for them, help negotiating the terms of the sale, and help with price negotiations. How much was the neighbor's house? One way your Texas REALTOR® will likely help you find the best offer is to review the sale prices of comparable properties nearby that have sold recently. He or she will look for homes in relatively the same area that have features similar to the property you're considering. These features can include square footage, number of bedrooms, and age of the property. Demand can play a role, too If you're in a market where properties are under contract soon after listing-a matter of hours, in some cases-your Texas REALTOR® will have advice for being ready to take action. This can mean offering more than the asking price or negotiating other items in the contract that make your offer attractive ... something you definitely can't do at the mall.