Even though this is a tough environment with inventory being so low, low down payment offers are still being accepted over offers with more money down.
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It’s also important in the seller’s market with low inventory, that a buyer’s agent and the buyers realize that you can’t go in with a low offer, requesting the seller to pay most of the closing costs and then start asking for a home warranty, termite bond, all the lawn equipment.
I just had two offers on a property this weekend. One buyer asked for the trampoline, the lawn equipment, house be professionally cleaned along with carpets, etc, etc and 10% below list price with a very nice cover letter. Second offer was list price, minimal seller paid closing costs, only asked for a termite letter. Guess which one was accepted.
The days of beating a seller to death with stipulations are over until we get more inventory.
This is definitely happening in the DFW market….bidding wars all over the place but the credibility and reputation of the lender/LO makes a huge difference in offers being accepted.
As a seller, as long as the loan is funded, then down payment is unimportant. As a buyer, I have always avoided bidding wars by paying all or a portion of the seller’s closing costs. Nothing says, “I’m serious,” more than that.