As you've been searching for a home, talking to industry professionals, and reading information online, you've probably come across the terms “buyer's market” and “seller's market”. And maybe you thought, “What exactly does this mean? Well, we'd like to shed some light on this and explain not only what these terms in themselves mean, but also what they mean for prospective home buyers and sellers. This also usually means that sellers don't necessarily have to accept the buyer's requests to fix items that may arise during the inspection. That's why buyers are strongly encouraged to select an agent who is proactive in finding the right options, making solid offers, and who is well-versed in negotiating, which can help them get the best terms after the inspection.
All that said, there are a number of things a seller must do to take advantage of the market pendulum that tilts in their favor. Buyers expect to see the value of the home. If it's not properly organized, tidy, and in perfect viewing condition, buyers may not see the value in the list price and the property may remain on the market for a longer period of time. A property that has been on the market for a while in a seller's market can be considered a “red flag” for potential buyers.
This is where a great ad agent really shines and earns their commission. Organizing the house, discussing a good pricing strategy and properly marketing the house are things that a good agent will discuss in detail with sellers. In real estate, a buyer's market is when there is a surplus of homes for sale and a shortage of demand from buyers. Buyers can take advantage of buyer's market conditions to their advantage and negotiate lower sales prices if they know what steps to take.
On the other hand, well-prepared sellers may need to offer incentives and advantages to get ahead in the buyer's market. The best offer is probably the one with the strongest finances, which means it's cash with proof of funds or a pre-approved buyer with documented financing, even if it's not the highest offer. One way to make your home more attractive to potential buyers is to hire an inspector yourself to identify the problems you need to solve before you list it. One of the most common questions real estate agents ask themselves is whether it's a buyer's or seller's market.
But if you're in a market where buyers are likely to ask you for help with closing costs or repairs, plan ahead. Sellers are more likely to make the necessary repairs in a buyer's market, unless they are willing to sell the property as a repair home, as this will limit their number of potential buyers and will likely reduce the price. Unlike the seller's market, there is a buyer's market when there are more homes available to buy than people willing to buy. Many buyers will notice that when they check out popular real estate sites, they have more to choose from.
Cities with many available jobs and growing industries are often a seller's market, while those with struggling economies will be a buyer's market. Anything that increases sellers' urgency to sell or decreases buyers' urgency to buy will tend to create a buyer's market. Market days and cumulative market days (CDOM) will increase when the market favors buyers. If you need to sell your house in a buyer's market for work, financial, or personal reasons, you don't have to let buyers fool you.
A buyer's market refers to a situation in which changes in the underlying economic conditions that shape supply and demand mean that buyers have an advantage over sellers in price negotiations. By changing the shape of supply and demand in a way that involves a lower market equilibrium price, these factors can create an advantage for buyers to negotiate lower prices. .
