Wednesday, April 18, 2007

Realty Speaking! What to Offer?


The first step in determining the price you are willing to offer for your next "Dream Home" is to look at the recent sales of similar homes. These "comparable sales" are recent sales of homes that compare closely to the one you are looking to purchase. You want to compare prices of homes that are similar in square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, lot size, type of construction and maybe lake frontage or view.

The most accessible source of information on comparable sales is the public record. When someone buys a home, the property is deeded from the seller to the buyer and the deed is recorded at the local county recorder's office. Accessing the data is another matter, at least for the general public. Realtors can generally look up this information through www.TaxNetUSA.com, an online service that most Real Estate offices subscribe to.

The next source is the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Most of the public is aware that the MLS is a private resource where Realtors list properties available for sale. Once a listed property is sold and closed the selling price is posted to the MLS. Over time, it has become a huge database on past sales, containing much more information on individual homes than can be gleaned from the public record. This information is only available to agents who are members of the local MLS.

Your agent will provide you with this data to help determine your offer price. Although your agent may provide advice and guidance, you are the one who makes the decision. The price you put in the offer is totally up to you.

No comments: