House I have an offer on needs a new roof

[Jumpem]

No offense, but is this the first time you've ever purchased a home? Even in the best of times, you don't offer asking price unless you're in a hot area with tons of competition. And secondly, who cares about the listings? That has nothing to do with what houses are selling for in the area. Your agent could pull all the home sales in the immediate vicinity to give you an idea of the sale prices in the area.

In this environment, not only is your offer likely the only offer on the house, but you might be the only offer the seller has received since putting it up for sale. How long as it been for sale? You have to factor all of this in when making an offer on a house.



If you haven't signed their counter, don't. Insist on the roof being fixed.

This will be my second house. It wasn't listed for long.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

No offense, but is this the first time you've ever purchased a home? Even in the best of times, you don't offer asking price unless you're in a hot area with tons of competition. And secondly, who cares about the listings? That has nothing to do with what houses are selling for in the area. Your agent could pull all the home sales in the immediate vicinity to give you an idea of the sale prices in the area.

In this environment, not only is your offer likely the only offer on the house, but you might be the only offer the seller has received since putting it up for sale. How long as it been for sale? You have to factor all of this in when making an offer on a house.



If you haven't signed their counter, don't. Insist on the roof being fixed.

+1
No matter what he/she says, your realtor does NOT work for you. I know how easy it is to overlook potential problems particularly when you've got immediate pressures for living and work issues. Just STOP! Think about the long term issues and cost because, solving your immediate living and work issues, WILL NOT MAKE THE LONG TERM ONES GO AWAY!

Quite a few of us are telling you to either make the seller foot the bill on the roof or walk away. You can certainly make up your own mind but, do not disregard the points that we have made.

Since no one has asked, who recommended the house inspector you hired?

 

[Jumpem]

+1
No matter what he/she says, your realtor does NOT work for you. I know how easy it is to overlook potential problems particularly when you've got immediate pressures for living and work issues. Just STOP! Think about the long term issues and cost because, solving your immediate living and work issues, WILL NOT MAKE THE LONG TERM ONES GO AWAY!

Quite a few of us are telling you to either make the seller foot the bill on the roof or walk away. You can certainly make up your own mind but, do not disregard the points that we have made.

Since no one has asked, who recommended the house inspector you hired?

We used him on our first house, and he was also recommended to my mom by an inspector in her area.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

This will be my second house. It wasn't listed for long.

You've got to be ready to walk away when you're negotiating for a house. When I bought my current home in 2008, the seller tried to get cute and play hardball with me when I offered them significantly less than their asking price. I told them that my offer was a good-faith offer and I had every intention of negotiating but since they weren't serious, I was going to look at more houses and if they changed their minds, they knew where to find me. I heard back in a couple of days and I upped the offer a little and actually told them "Do not play games with me, I am serious -- this is the FINAL offer you will get from me." They caved.