1. Townhouse, no agreement on price.
If you still like the place, would you consider offering your first offer again, or even with some modifications, or have you found you don’t like it as much anymore?

2. Condo, price agreed but HOA problem.
Well, depending on the problem, I wouldn’t likely suggest you buy into “someone elses’ problems”. You have a much higher chance with condos or townhouses with HOA’s to simply not want to buy if the HOA has issues. Stay away can be the smartest decision – even if a price is a bargain. Again, depends on the issues.

3. House, price agreed, inspection item not resolved.
Is the house still for sale? Do you like it enough to go back and try a new offer?

4. Condo, no agreement on price but with a wrinkle.
Well … that one is hard to comment on ! We all have wrinkles …

Your approach to buying is becoming more common in some areas more than others. I’d have to see the detail, but “3rd time’s the charm” is getting more comon. On my last closing with a buyer, about a week ago, the first one had easement issues, the second one had offer shenanigans (I wrote about about it regarding is your offer a secret) and the last one was a really good house, though not cheap or a bargain.

People are taking the time to be sure of everything moreso than they have in many years. Lots of fear even though my last couple of clients weren’t 1st time buyers. Both had children, one was tired of renting and wanted a real home. The other had two children and were growing out of their townhome that they loved. Both were highly qualified buyers.

The other buyer I am mentioing had 3 failed offers before I met her. Both were doing it on their own before I met them with not much success.

RCG Radio is just us talking to ourselves online I would just like to hear you describe the situation in your own words on a venue where I can ask questions. I do think it would be helpful to other buyers in the market.

Next week we have “The Tim” from Seattle Bubble. Tune in and see if you’re comfortable with it. It’s really just like a conference call and then it becomes the widget in the sidebar for a week.

My question now is:
In your collective opinion, are we typical buyers in today’s market?

On the case histories, I must apologize. Except for #1, they get lengthy, and I just won’t be able to devote the necessary time to describe them right now. I’ll piece them together offline and drop them in here as they get done.

Re the talk show Ardell mentions in #14: I appreciate the invitation. Is it really on the radio or just online? Whatever it is, I’ll tune in as an observer and see if it would work for me. I’m dealing with a long term medical situation that snuffs out my customary brilliance and good humor frequently and unpredictably.

In the meantime, it would truly help our negotiating behavior to know whether our overall attitude and circumstances as reflected in facts 1-5 above are common today.

I know I’ve left some of your questions unanswered and will try to respond this weekend.

First, though, our actions might not make a whole lot of sense unless I describe our assumptions and desires. I honestly don’t know if we are typical buyers in this market or not. You tell me, seriously. Here are the facts about us:

1. Everything we read and see going on around us nationally and locally indicates that we should rent, not buy. The *only* reason we insist on trying to own is that we have always (34 years) owned our homes and just can’t accept emotionally the idea of becoming long term renters. We assume that whatever we buy will depreciate by about half percent a month until …?

2. Even so, we are willing to suspend our good sense and make a reasonable effort to buy a house if the price is kinda right, and the process is smooth.

3. The number of acceptable houses where we want to live is increasing steadily, and prices for them keep dropping.

4. We believe we are pretty well informed about our target real estate market and increasingly well informed about intangible stuff like protocols. We are (overly, I’m afraid) sensitive about being treated like children or idiots by real estate agents.

Bare bones about our 4 failed offers:
1. Townhouse. No agreement on price.
2. Condo. Price agreed, but HOA problem.
3. House. Price agreed, but major inspection item not resolved.
4. Condo. No agreement on price, but with a wrinkle.

Well, want details or not? — Denis

Often buyers will call and say “I don’t want you to make an EXTRA trip, but if you are going to be at the house during the next few days, can I see it then?”

BTW, some listings say that the commission drops from 3% to 1% if the agent you buy with is not with you at the first showing. Unfortunately you can’t see that as it is in the agent only remarks section. There is much talk about whether this is enforceable. But don’t assume that there are no conditions on the buyer agent fee or that it is always 3%. You could end up with nothing for your extra trouble in the event the commission changes if you didn’t see the listing with the agent you will use to buy it with.

Re #51, I assume that B in my example was just looking and therefore had no agent and did not make an offer.

I also want to repeat that all of your thoughts on negotiating are very helpful. Thank you. Thank you.

I hope to post something on that topic later today.

I think it’s also fair to say that not all agents are good negotiators. However, when facing an experienced, market savvy agent who is a good negotiator, an inexperienced buyer or seller working on their own behalf could find themselves at a severe disadvantage. I see people all the time who “think” they got a good deal, but really pulled off a real “stinker”. “Wisdom” sets in a few years later when it’s time to sell.

Many consumers feel that an agent’s main job is to find the property and base their entire value on this. In reality that is an important part of an agent’s job, however the majority of the work starts once the property is found. The ability to effectively negotiate is one of the most important attributes that a consumer should look for in an agent.

One of the things that plague is all is often “we don’t know what we don’t know”.