Is the DFW real estate market cooling off? (Howe, Mart: flat fee, attorney)

[Hacker1234]

Always thought the buying home seasons in Dallas was weird. Over here on the West cost they move fast all year.

[jdallas]

Originally Posted by Hacker1234

Always thought the buying home seasons in Dallas was weird. Over here on the West cost they move fast all year.

This area is ALL about finding the perfect school for offspring so homes follow the school calendar. The households I personally know along the West coast are living the dink life so they buy/sell as they please and have pretty yards throughout winter.

[TheOverdog]

Always thought the buying home seasons in Dallas was weird. Over here on the West cost they move fast all year.

There are home buying seasons all across the US, just like there is job growth seasonality and auto buying seasonality. There's not much different about Dallas in this regard, except that it might be slightly more pronounced because Dallas builds more housing than the west coast does, and thus more competition for limited resources out west.

It's actually more dramatic in places where the winter season precludes people from buying houses due to bad curb appeal and mountains of snow.

[runeblade48]

Personally this market is depressing me as a first time buyer. We started looking 2-3 years ago right before the houses took off and seeing less nice home with less to no upgrades for $350 plus when they could be had for as little as $250 when we started looking just makes it hard to pull the trigger. The lack of inventory makes it worse. I have found it hard to find a good realtor. They basically just set up house searches that don't even always my requirements in the search. All I can guess is they are selling so many they don't really care.

[BigDGeek]

Originally Posted by runeblade48

Personally this market is depressing me as a first time buyer. We started looking 2-3 years ago right before the houses took off and seeing less nice home with less to no upgrades for $350 plus when they could be had for as little as $250 when we started looking just makes it hard to pull the trigger. The lack of inventory makes it worse. I have found it hard to find a good realtor. They basically just set up house searches that don't even always my requirements in the search. All I can guess is they are selling so many they don't really care.

When I bought 8 years ago, I found the house myself. My realtor was invaluable, though, in helping guide me through the buying process itself.

[NP78]

Originally Posted by BigDGeek

When I bought 8 years ago, I found the house myself. My realtor was invaluable, though, in helping guide me through the buying process itself.

+1


That has generally been my experience as well.

[kyam11]

Never used a realtor to buy other than to write up paperwork and give me back 2%. Always found the house, made the listing agent show me house, decided what offer to make, find realtor to give me 2% back, write up offer, and close.

[justsomeguy]

Originally Posted by kyam11

Never used a realtor to buy other than to write up paperwork and give me back 2%. Always found the house, made the listing agent show me house, decided what offer to make, find realtor to give me 2% back, write up offer, and close.

I'm curious how you pitched that offer to the realtor you chose and what the responses were you got. Were they offended/insulted or were they eager to jump on the opportunity?

[kyam11]

Originally Posted by justsomeguy

I'm curious how you pitched that offer to the realtor you chose and what the responses were you got. Were they offended/insulted or were they eager to jump on the opportunity?

I start with the listing agent. Usually they accept it since they get an extra 1% (4% instead of 3%). On the off chance they say no I call around and find a realtor that will do it. Takes usually no more than 3 calls since I explain I already have seen the property, know what the offer is, and just need them to write it up.

Some were not willing to do it. Not sure if they were offended or insulted. From a $ per hour standpoint it would be the easiest money they could make.

Last home I did (current house) we used the listing agent. He wrote a check back to us for about $20,000 or the title company did.

Offer made on Monday, closed on Friday. He spent maybe 1 hour total. Closing was 3 pages long and took about 120 seconds.

[justsomeguy]

Originally Posted by kyam11

I start with the listing agent. Usually they accept it since they get an extra 1% (4% instead of 3%). On the off chance they say no I call around and find a realtor that will do it. Takes usually no more than 3 calls since I explain I already have seen the property, know what the offer is, and just need them to write it up.

Some were not willing to do it. Not sure if they were offended or insulted. From a $ per hour standpoint it would be the easiest money they could make.

Last home I did (current house) we used the listing agent. He wrote a check back to us for about $20,000 or the title company did.

Offer made on Monday, closed on Friday. He spent maybe 1 hour total. Closing was 3 pages long and took about 120 seconds.

Interesting...do they have an ethical obligation to let the seller know they are giving 2% of their commission that they are getting paid to you, the buyer?