Boston high rise condo buyers make your move now

May is usually the busiest month of the year in terms of home buying activity, but with the coronavirus pandemic wreaking havoc with traditional timelines, it looks like August will see the peak of buying instead, according to a new study by realtor.com.

Real Estate Study

The study finds that current growth in home sales, buyer demand and home prices have surpassed year-ago levels, and will continue to grow this month.

Realtor.com’s Housing Market Recovery Index, which is a measure of the progress of the market’s recovery, has reached 103.8 for the week ending August 1, which is 3.8 points above the pre-pandemic baseline. The index compares current housing data to January 2020 as a baseline for pre-COVID-19 measurements. Any reading above 100 indicates a stronger recovery.

Boston Condo Sales In August

Still, August is going to be a productive month if the stats are anything to go by. Homes are currently selling four days faster than they were a year ago, and median listing prices are up 9.4%. That’s the most “surprising aspect” of the housing market during the pandemic, realtor.com said.

The biggest problem for home buyers remains the limited inventory of properties for sale. The number of listed homes for sale is down 35% from a year ago.

“These conditions set the stage for further price gains ahead, a trend which could eventually cause buyer demand to cool,” realtor.com’s report said.

Are you in the market to purchase Boston downtown real estate this summer? Whether it’s your first time buying a Beacon Hill condo or it’s just been a few years, let’s take a closer look at what goes into a successful Boston luxury condo sales Offer.

Boston Downtown Real Estate News

If you’re entering the Boston high rise condo for sale market this July or August, be prepared to compete with other buyers for in-demand homes in the below median price range for high rise luxury condos. Homes in the lower price brackets are still in high demand, while the high end luxury market remains cool in most (not all) areas of downtown Boston. The lower to medium luxury priced homes are selling quickly right now, but that market will cool a bit in July and August are usually our highest inventory months of the year.

Price Reductions on Boston condos for sale

On a budget? Successful buyers will look for homes that are approaching the 50- or 60-days-on-market threshold, which is when home sellers start to think about accepting lower offers.

Along with a number of new homes going on the market, the best thing you’ve got going for you as a buyer right now we’ve have low mortgage rates. Home loans are very affordable right now, and you could lock in that low rate for 30 years or whatever the life of your mortgage is.

Boston Luxury Offers: The Basics

An “offer” is defined by Merriam-Webster as “an expression of readiness”. In Boston downtown real estate, an offer is a document that states that you, the buyer, are ready to commit to buying the home. It includes the price you’re willing to pay and all other details relevant to that transaction. The offer becomes a legally binding contract as soon as the seller accepts it. Of course, the seller can reject or counter the offer instead — but we’ll get to that in a minute. 

An offer to purchase a home or other piece of Boston downtown real estate includes five crucial elements:

1. The “who” and “what”. This part of the offer states who you are and who the sellers are. It also provides a legal definition of the home that the offer is for. 
2. The money. The “meat” of the agreement! This part states the price being offered and the how that money will change hands, whether through cash, a mortgage, or some combination thereof. A key aspect of the “money” part of the offer is stating how much earnest money will be offered. This part of the offer also describes the expected closing costs and who will cover them. 
3. The closing. Stating exactly when you want the home sale to be final and the keys to change hands is a required part of the home offer.
4. Contingencies. As we stated above, the offer becomes a legal contract as soon as the seller accepts, so it’s important to have back-out clauses, or contingencies. Some are standard and expected in most real estate transactions: Contingent on inspection, contingent on appraisal, and contingent on financing. 
5. Items included and excluded from the sale. This list of items can cover everything from sheds to window treatments (just to be safe), and whether they should go to the buyer or the seller. Typically speaking, whatever is physically attached to the home or property stays.

This list just highlights the elements of a Boston luxury condo offer that are most relevant to buyers, but it’s important to note that there are many other aspects of this potential contract that your real estate agent should include. The “fine print” is just one reason to have a good buyers’ agent who can take care of these details. Pro tip: don’t work with the first buyer’s agent you meet! Interview one or two and take their credentials and experience into account. Our top Charles River Park condo buyer/seller agent is taking on new clients.

When an Offer becomes a Negotiation

So, you found the home of your dreams, you submitted the offer, and now you’re done!

Just kidding. In most cases in Charles River Park condo seller is going to want to negotiate with you. In fact, if this is the first offer they’ve received on the home, they’re most likely going to wait past your offer deadline to see if any other buyers will want to make an offer and create a competitive situation.

Of course, if it’s the home of your dreams, you’ve got to make an offer. So what do you do when you receive a counter? 

1. Don’t panic. Sometimes a counter isn’t about the price; the seller may simply need a different closing date, or they need to keep an appliance. 
2. Be timely. All offers have an expiration date. If there are other homes you want to see before you decide to accept or reject the counteroffer, get it done quickly. 
3. Counteroffer with confidence. It’s not uncommon to have one or two counters go back and forth before buyer and seller agree.
4. …but don’t get caught up in the game. If your personality leans toward the competitive side of life, be wary of making decisions in the heat of the moment that you’ll regret later. In other words, don’t pay too much for a home just to prove something, and don’t let a great home buy go just to save a few hundred dollars.
5. Know the sweet spots for home sellers. You may not be able to offer a higher price for the home, but home sellers can be motivated to accept your offer in other ways as well. If you can offer more earnest money, this is a very effective way to improve the chances of your offer being accepted. Shortening inspection and appraisal windows and closing on the home sooner may be another way to sweeten the deal. 

Whether you need a home yesterday or you’re able to wait until the Boston luxury high rise condo market’s high inventory season (every July and August), our buyers’ agent specialist are here to help. Get the negotiations right with an expert on your side. Take advantage of low mortgage rates and find your Boston high rise condo dream home.

Boston downtown real estate for sale

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