Seller refuses to negotiate

[FalconheadWest]

Originally Posted by Ultrarunner

... back in 2006...

2006 is a very different market from today. You're comparing apples to Brussels sprouts.

[Ultrarunner]

Market is always changing.

My point is a seller and/or buyer are under no requirement to use brokerage... at least in California. They are still free to make their own deal and go through all the steps.

I was approached by 3 of the 4 sellers because they knew me from managing rentals in their area.

The 4th was a family friend I was visiting and mentioned they were moving and I asked if someone in the family was going to take over the house and they said no was interested in moving back to Oakland and we struck a deal... they did pay a 1% commission to their Broker friend just to make sure everything was done right...

Of the two I sold... one was in 2006 and the other in 2011.

Mentioned 2006 because I had never seen anything like it... a true feeding frenzy.

[thunderkat59]

Dont lose a house you really want for what might amount to a small amount of money per month. Quality of life is priceless. We bid over what our house listed for in Vermont to get it. The other bidders were stuck on the see who can come the closest to asking without going over mindset. When it came time to sell that house, I FSBOd and made it clear offers wont be accepted. Appearing to be unmotivated worked in my favor. This situation is relevant to your post in some ways

[Ultrarunner]

^^^ Found my forever property that was ideal in that it had everything I could ever want in terms of land, location, etc... home has 3600 square feet on 5 acres.

I was always the back up offer at 100K over the accepted offer and would have gladly paid the 100k premium to make it mine.

Sadly, it was not to be because the person in first position did finally close on day 59 of a 60 day escrow.

Prices have risen dramatically since then and I doubt I could afford it just 24 months later.

The key is how well the home meets your needs.