The term ‘chasing the market’ usually applies to sellers in a down market when they don’t lower their price fast enough to get ahead of the new listings coming on that are under-cutting them.
The reverse is also true about home buyers in a hot market.
Those in the hunt for weeks or months who have lost several bidding wars are watching each new listing get priced higher and higher, and their frustration mounts as they struggle to get ahead of the trend. Some buyers can get priced out altogether, and others buck up and pay an exorbitant price just to end their misery and get on with life.
It just happened like that in La Costa Oaks.
I had two great comps nearby when when we priced our 7168 Sitio Corazon listing at $1,379,000, with the latest being right across the street. Ours had the master suite downstairs, which isn’t as popular with families with young kids – and the 3,563sf plan has the master upstairs with the rest of the kids’ bedrooms.
It’s very unusual in the low-inventory era to have four sales within five months – especially this close together. You can see what happens – they feed on each other, with the intensity building with each sale.
After my efficient and timely bidding war where I gave all contenders the chance to submit their highest-and-best offers, we ended up with three. Two were $1,450,000, and the winner was a decisive $1,470,000 with no appraisal contingency and a 30-day rentback for my sellers.
Many of the buyers who saw my listing went across the street when 7177 Sitio Corazon hit the market a week later. I told the listing agent and the seven buyer-agents who contacted me that our sales price was $1,470,000, which helped feed the frenzy. With it being the more desirable floor plan and full transparency about how hot the market is, buyers went crazy – and there were eight offers.
The buyers who won with an offer of $1,600,000 were one of my $1,450,000 offers.
They were tired of losing, apparently, and added enough mustard to clinch it – about 10% over list price, and more than 23% above a nearby model-match sale in August!
We are grateful for the opportunity to assist our blog readers! From a recent seller:
When we moved to San Diego in 2005 we rented a big house on Mt. Soledad (La Jolla) with 180 degree ocean views for the same payment as a mortgage on a dump in Chula Vista. Clearly something was wrong. Yet, the media was full of the usual happy-talk nonsense, so I was glad to find Jim’s blog.
I’ve followed his honest assessments and data since.
We decided to sell and move to AZ at Thanksgiving. Dec. 1st we met with Jim to sell our home. We closed today (29 days later). Jim orchestrated a feeding frenzy — we had 25 showings in 2-1/2 days, multiple offers, and sold for well over asking price. I’d say he earned his commission!
We have owned and sold homes in 5 different States always using experienced, productive, full-time realtors. Jim outshines them all. You don’t decide to sell and close 29 days later over Christmas (with COVID lockdown) without some miracles. Donna was amazing at performing lots of those miracles and ensuring that everything was done right and on time. They are a terrific team with a very responsive and professional network.
Have you been thinking about getting a great realtor to help you buy a home, but feel loyal to your Aunt Bea or a friend who just started in the business? This story is for you.
We received five offers on our new listing over the weekend. The lowest offer was written by a new agent who is in her brokerage’s mentor program, and even her mentor attended the showing which made me feel like this was important. Typically, the mentors are has-beens who can’t hack it any more on the front lines, and instead want to be pseudo-coaches for new agents and get a chunk of their commissions.
I told both the agent and the mentor that we had already received multiple offers over list price, and to make their highest-and-best offer. Once received, I asked specifically, “is this your highest-and-best offer?”
They never responded.
We had three buyers who were willing to pay at least $90,000 over the list price, so I engaged them in a second round to determine the winner.
We accepted an offer that was $100,000+ over the $1,100,000 list price.
Yesterday, the new agent got back to me and said her buyers are willing to match our high offer.
Even though her buyers must have been extremely interested in the house, the advice they received didn’t even put them in contention at the time. And now it’s too late.
Immediate buyer demand requires, and deserves, immediate great advice.
I regularly meet people for the first time at a house in which they have interest – and I proceed to discuss the state of the market, evaluate the condition of the house and repair costs, and then pinpoint the value of the home based on comps and suggest a strategy to win it. There’s a handful of my clients who bought the first house they saw.
Get Good Help!
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For the skeptical who want proof of the demand, here’s the turnout over the weekend:
The contest for guessing the number of listings in January is now closed. We are running about 20% behind last January’s count, so the few sellers who are willing to brave the early-2021 market will do nicely.
We had 31 showings and five offers on our new listing over the weekend, and three of them were willing to pay $90,000 over list!
If you are the kind of buyer who wants to use logic and common sense – and tie your offer price to the comps – well, this isn’t the market for you. Pay tomorrow’s prices, today!
The worst thing for home sellers is to be unprepared for the immediate reaction from buyers.
Those who haven’t sold a home in years will sign a listing agreement and settle in for what they expect will be a few months of marketing and showings until that nice young couple with 2.2 kids comes along to relieve them of the family homestead. Virtually every seller says, “I’m in no hurry!”
But the motivated buyers – those who pay the most – are scanning their search portals every minute, and when they see a possible contender, they react!
We have 29 showings this weekend of our new listing, and have received five offers – all over list price.
The seven showings of our new listing yesterday went well. People generally show up on time and understand the predicament that the demand is overwhelming the supply. We’ve received two offers, and we are way over list price already.
There tends to be some standing around, so I like to engage with agents about how my slow-motion auction process works. They appreciate the transparency, and tells stories about how other agents are handling their showings. I heard a story about one listing agent who demands that agents submit the buyer’s preapproval letter and proof of funds JUST TO BE PUT ON A WAITING LIST TO SHOW, and another where no human interaction was allowed (which is common).
In my case, you deal with me, and I make myself available by phone, text, or email. I want to give every buyer ample opportunity to buy the home – isn’t that what you want in your listing agent?
The zestimates and Redfin estimates are really a joke now. If they are willing to derive their number off the list price and try to make you think it is the actual value, what else are they willing to do to you?
Are you looking for a quiet south-facing yard full of sunshine where you can watch the hawks soaring above and the crystal-blue enchantress calling from the west? Check out our new listing of this dazzling 4 br/3 ba, 2,597sf listing in Carlsbad! LP = $1,100,000!
Gibson, Ford, Brock, Seaver, Kaline, Morgan, Niekro, Lasorda, Sutton and now Hammerin Hank. We’ve lost some of the greatest to ever do it this year. @TommyLasorda is gonna have a hell of a roster to manage up there. #RIPLegends
Comments on December Existing Home Sales https://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2021/01/comments-on-december-existing-home-sales.html The delay in the buying season has pushed the seasonally adjusted number to very high levels. For example, this number of sales, (NSA) in July, would have given a 5.3 million, as opposed to 6.76 million SAAR.
When I was a kid, the only bat I used was his - legend: MLB: Hank Aaron dies at age of 86 https://sports.yahoo.com/mlb-hall-of-famer-braves-former-home-run-king-hank-aaron-dies-at-86-154633738.html?soc_src=social-sh&soc_trk=tw&tsrc=twtr via @Yahoo
"Where do we begin..2020 has been a year for everyone. When COVID hit and shut down both my husband and my businesses, we were left with a mortgage and very little income coming in. We were stressed, scared and felt stuck. We made the hard decision to sell our home and move out of state. We contacted the Klinges' and spent a good hour going over what we hoped we could accomplish. Jim and Donna came over with comps in hand and suggestions on improvements to get our house ready for the market. It was overwhelming to think about, but Donna was there and one step ahead in every scenario. more "
5.0/5.0
by AmberleePiercy
5315455
"Jim and Donna Klinge made the sale of our condo extraordinarily easy. They know the market and gave us sound advice backed by details and very considerable experience, reflected both in the initial pricing and subsequent negotiations. They work together as a team and are always available to talk. more "
5.0/5.0
by WAH08
5315455
"I cannot believe there are no reviews of Donna yet, ugh!! She is the secret sauce of the Jim Klinge/Donna Klinge combo! I will touch on Jim here, but Donna is why I'm so totally loyal to these two (no offense to Jim :)).
I consider myself a rather savvy buyer/seller. I've bought/sold 7 times in more "
5.0/5.0
by bethamunce
4911411
"Jim and Donna Klinge are by far the most professional, personable and responsive realtors I have ever worked with. They provide VIP concierge level service in every area of the process of selling your home. My home was marketed so successfully that we received an offer the day after our first and only open house. Thanks to Jim's pricing and negotiating, our house is now the highest sold in our community... more "
5.0/5.0
by Ann Romanello
305973
"Jim educated us, helped us find the perfect house, and then negotiated us a great deal. I would hate to be sitting across the negotiating table from ... more "
5.0/5.0
by user6611938
332633
"Jim is thorough and will be brutally honest about the homes he shows you. He provides great service and follows through until the very end and even ... more "
5.0/5.0
by Melanie
351390
"I highly recommend Jim as a buyer’s agent. Working with Jim, we closed this week on a San Diego condo. Jim prepared a list of comparable sales to ... more "
