How to Buy a Home in a Sellers' Market

Trying to buy a home in a sellers' market is a little like not having a date on Saturday night. Everyone else seems to be having all the fun but you.

Since there are more buyers than homes for sale in a sellers' market, homes sell quickly and for higher prices than they normally would. Seeing homes in which you are interested sell out from under you and at outrageous prices can be frustrating and discouraging. You continue to drive your favorite neighborhoods, but begin to lose hope that you'll ever get there first and for the right price.

What can you do? If you are in a sellers' market, and wish to buy a home, flip the odds back in your favor. Do the following: Be prepared to buy.

Get your finances in order, clean up your credit, and talk to Coastal Bay and be pre-qualified for a loan. Knowing how much you can spend can narrow your search and make it more fun. You will also be in a much better position to act quickly should the right house come your way.

Pick an area where you want to live.

Decide on the lifestyle you want and what kind of home you want . Think about how you would like to live your daily life. Picture your activities and how you want to spend your time. The right type of home will come to you. Do you like to entertain large groups of people? You may want a house with a great room. Do you like to travel and don't care much for maintenance? Something in a gated community may be more your style.  Do you love antiques or restoring things? How about looking at a historic property, or an older home? Focusing on your greatest wants will help you and your Realtor find the best home for you.

Hire an Exclusive Buyers Agent from Coastal Bay Properties.

A buyers' market isn't the time to look for a home by yourself. You need help - someone who has an ear to the ground in areas where you don't and access to the Multiple Listing Service. That person is your Coastal Bay Exclusive Buyer's Agent. We specialize in the neighborhood in which you want to live and the type of home you want to buy. 

Be willing to sign an exclusive buyers' agreement.

Use the Internet and other contacts to your advantage. 

Tell everyone you know that you are looking for a home and to ask their neighbors is they know anyone who is selling. Put a note on the bulletin board at church, at the office, at the day care center. You may get lucky and come across a home before it hits the market.

Don't use multiple agents. 

The worst thing you can do in a sellers' market is to attempt to "beat the system" by asking several Realtors to find you a home. They will quickly figure out they are working for the same buyer, and you will become a joke.

If you have the opportunity to bid on a home with multiple offers, make sure yours is the most attractive offer. Keep contingencies to a minimum; but protect yourself.  The seller may assume that any contingency is a loophole to get out of the contract. In a sellers' market, they have no reason to allow you to tie up the home. Make it clear that you are ready to move toward closing.