5 Expert Tips for Buying a House in a Competitive Market

Are you ready to conquer the competitive real estate market and find your dream home? With our expert strategies, you’ll navigate the challenges seamlessly. Discover invaluable tips for buying a house in a competitive market. Let’s dive in and make your home-buying dreams a reality!

Before you start house hunting, it’s crucial to have your mortgage pre-approval letter ready. This document shows sellers that you are a serious buyer and have already been approved for a loan. It gives you a competitive edge over other potential buyers who haven’t taken this step yet. By having your pre-approval letter in hand, you can confidently make offers on properties and increase your chances of getting accepted.

Real Estate Pro Tip: From our experience in the current market, most home sellers want to see buyers who can attain a conventional loan over an FHA loan. Weigh your options and see if going this route is feasible, to gain a competitive edge.

In a competitive market, properties can come and go quickly. With the current New Jersey market, we’re experiencing right now, homes are typically under contract between 20-30 days if not sooner. This is why it’s essential to act fast when you find a home you love. 

Generally, in a competitive market it is important to schedule viewings as soon as possible and submit offers promptly. Delays can cost you the opportunity to secure the house, as other buyers may be waiting in line. By acting swiftly, you demonstrate your seriousness and increase your chances of successfully buying the home.

Real Estate Pro Tip: With our realtor team at Casa Real Properties, we leverage manual market checks in addition to automated notifications for our buyers. This way you can be emailed the latest market listings, as they appear in the MLS. Oftentimes we will give our home buyers first previews if it is a listing, we have in-house.

To show sellers that you are committed to purchasing their property, consider offering an earnest money deposit along with your offer. This deposit is a sum of money that demonstrates your sincerity as a buyer. It is typically held in escrow and applied to your down payment or closing costs upon successful completion of the purchase. Offering a significant earnest money deposit can make your offer more attractive and competitive in a tight market.

Real Estate Pro Tip: To protect your earnest money deposit, you can have contingencies in place such as a pass of inspection, having the home appraised at the value you’re offering, and ensuring the title of the home can be pulled with no issues. You can talk to your real estate attorney for the verbiage to use when it comes time for contractual negotiations. 

Closing timelines can play a significant role in a competitive market. Sellers often prefer buyers who can close quickly and smoothly. To gain a competitive edge, check with your lender to see if it’s possible to expedite the closing process. Some lenders offer fast-track options or can provide you with a clear estimate of the closing timeline. By ensuring a quicker closing, you make your offer more appealing to sellers. We typically advise our clients to seek a 30-45 day close in competitive markets. 

Real Estate Pro Tip: Have all of your information for your mortgage lender handy. Including your most recent tax statements, last month of pay-stubs, bank statements, and any other additional information you anticipate. 

We also have referrals in-house to help you locate the best deal on your home insurance and title insurance. 

In a competitive market, it’s common for buyers to face bidding wars and multiple offers. To make your offer more enticing to sellers, consider limiting your inspections to structural and environmental checks only. This means focusing on essential aspects that impact the property’s safety and integrity. By waiving other inspections, you streamline the process and show sellers that you are willing to make concessions to secure the home.

Real Estate Pro Tip: Once you are under attorney review, give a call to your home inspector to be on standby to perform the proper checks on the house. With a faster close, these timelines for an inspector’s report may be expedited. 

Discover Your Home Purchasing Power.

Buying a house in a competitive market requires strategic planning and swift action. By following these expert tips, you can enhance your chances of success and stand out from other buyers. These strategies will position you as a strong contender in a competitive real estate market.

At Casa Real Properties, we have been serving the New Jersey real estate market for over 25+ years. Our commitment to putting our clients first has earned us a trusted reputation. From mortgage pre-approvals to closing day, we provide personalized and collaborative services to make your dreams of homeownership a reality. Contact us today to discover how we can assist you.