Published by REALTOR Magazine | March 23, 2021
Buyers are feeling a greater sense of urgency as mortgage rates begin to rise.
The buying frenzy continues as multiple offers become the norm and buyers offer thousands or tens of thousands above the asking price to try to get the home they want. In many cases, buyers also are increasingly waiving appraisals and even some inspections to make their offers stand out.
Buyers are also feeling a greater sense of urgency as mortgage rates rise, and they’re eager to lock in a low rate ahead of any further increases.
“Fifteen offers, 25 offers, we even had one last week with 97 offers—and the list price is the starting point,” Mark Wolfe, broker-owner of RE/MAX DFW Associates, told the Dallas Business Journal. “An agent in our firm received 17 offers on a property before they cut off receiving additional offers. Twelve of the offers were cash, all above list, and most buyers not even seeing the home. They are just grabbing.”
“This is the strongest seller’s market since at least 2006,” says Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s chief economist. “Buyers outnumber sellers by such a huge margin that many homeowners are staying put because they know how hard it would be to find a place to move to. It seems like the only move-up buyers who are confident enough to list their homes are those who are relocating to a more affordable area where they’ll have an edge on the local competition.”
Despite the rapid price increases, this isn’t a housing bubble, housing economists say.
