Buying a house is a big decision — and competing against other qualified homebuyers is arguably one of the most stressful parts of this process if you’re a buyer in a competitive market like Napa or Sonoma County. The anxiety you feel about the process is well-founded, but having a trustworthy real estate team by your side can help alleviate the stress.
Below are a few early signs to look for that may cause a Napa Valley home to get sucked into a bidding war.
Watch out for a very competitive sale price
If a home has a very attractive price, you’re much more likely to run into competition among potential buyers. The average Napa Valley home is estimated at $1.2 million. If there’s a turn-key house sitting at a flat million-dollar price, you can bet that there will be more competition from buyers. More competition means prices are more likely to escalate, and contingencies are more likely to fall away. Most notably, people who budgeted for similar average-priced Napa homes might be willing to pay that extra $200,000 to outbid competitors. In that case, you might want to seek out Napa Valley luxury real estate that’s priced more accurately on the local median, rather than on properties that appear to be a steal.
Watch out for popular or turn-key features
When it comes to houses for sale in Sonoma County, certain homes are more likely to get snatched up quickly. The most popular types of homes in the country have 3–4 bedrooms with an average size of 2,261 square feet. Also, if the house is turn-key (AKA ready for move-in with little to no repairs), it’ll be even more popular on the market.
One easy way to lessen your chances of dealing with a potential bidding war is by being flexible. If you're willing to purchase a 1–2 or 5+ bedroom home or the kind of property that needs a bit more fixer-upper touches, the less competition you'll have to navigate.
Watch out for “saves” and “likes”
As you search for Napa Valley luxury real estate online, you should notice that many real estate sites show you how many likes or saves a home has. If the home has only been on the market for a day or a few days, that can be a good sign. After all, if a home has more than 100 saves or likes in under 24 hours, that home is competitive and will likely become a bidding war. The more likes your home has, the more likely it is to sell for more than you listed.
If researching social media traction isn’t your thing, that’s where a professional real estate agent can come in to help. You can ask them how many people have been touring the home. If the touring schedule is packed, it is more likely you will run into tough competition and a bidding war.
Ready to explore Sonoma or Napa Valley real estate?
For the best guidance in the Napa Valley real estate market, contact the experienced realtors at Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley. The Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley team provides each of their agents with continuing education and expert-level training to manage bidding wars — or any other challenges that arise along your real estate journey. You can count on extraordinary service, great results, and unparalleled support from both your real estate agent and the entire team at Coldwell Banker Brokers of the Valley.
*Header photo courtesy of Savings.com
