How to Determine Your Offer Price When Buying A Home

Decades ago, sellers priced a little high to leave room to negotiate down. Buyers typically offered 5 percent less. Then they negotiated and settled at a price in between. Today, there is so much variability in the housing market that it's impossible to use a pat formula for coming up with an offer price.

Your goal is always the same: You want to buy the best house for your needs and pay the lowest price. In many cases, you can start with a price that is less -- maybe even considerably less -- than the asking price and negotiate from there.

However, this strategy might not work in some California inland markets where housing prices have dropped about 50 percent in recent years. Some low-end housing markets plagued with foreclosures have heated up in recent months. Multiple offers are common, and some listings sell for more than the asking price.

Tailor your offer price to the specific house you want to buy. How much you offer should depend on how much you can comfortably afford to pay, which may be less than what the lender says you can afford. The price should be determined by current local market values, how well the listing is priced for the market, and whether or not you are in competition.

HOUSE HUNTING TIP: Buyers making offers in competition should try to make a rational decision regarding how much they're willing to pay. Don't get caught up in the frenzy of activity and offer more than your top price for the property. If you overpay, you could get cold feet and want to back out. In this case, your deposit might be at risk.

An appraisal contingency makes your offer contingent on the house appraising for the price you agreed to pay in the purchase agreement. If the property appraises for less than that price, you can withdraw from the contract and your deposit will be returned to you. That is, if your purchase agreement clearly stipulates this.

Bottom line - make sure you have a good agent!!