many houses are moving in hastings. while we did have a very slow winter market and sluggish spring market, the market started to rebound this summer. many houses have started to close and will continue to close this fall from deals that started in the summer. there is a lag time between having an acceptable offer and closing, sometimes beyond 90 days. until the property closes it still will appear as active on trulia.

HI SIMON,
I'M A LOCAL DEVELOPER IN THE RIVERTOWNS . I MET A LOT OF BUYERS THIS SPRING AND SUMMER ALL OF WHICH REALLY WANTED TO BUY A HOME BUT DIDN'T. MOST OF THESE FOLKS WERE NOT ABLE TO GET THEMSELVES TO PULL THE TRIGGER BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT THE MARKET HAS NOT YET BOTTOMED OUT OR THEY ARE AFRAID THAT BUYING A HOME IN THIS CURRENT ECONOMIC ENVIROMENT IS JUST A FOOLISH THING TO DO. SO THEY ALL THINK IT WILL BE A SMARTER THING TO BUY IN THE SPRING OF 2010, THATS WHY WE SAW SO MANY LOOKERS THIS SPRING/SUMMER AND NO BUYING. LITTLE DO THEY KNOW THAT THEY JUST PASSED UP ONE OF THE BEST BUYERS MARKET WE HAVE EVER SEEN, LET ALONE ONE OF THE BEST INTREST RATE CLIMATES WE HAVE HAD. , SO HERES WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN ALL THESE 2009 BUYERS PLUS NEW 2010 BUYERS WILL ALL WANT TO BUY, WE ARE GOING TO SEE LOTS AND LOTS OF READY TO GO BUYERS IN THE SPING OF 2010 WHICH MEANS MULTIPLE OFFERS, HIGHER PRICES, OVER ASKING BIDS A.K.A SELLERS MARKET ... THE BEST TIME TO BUY IS RIGHT NOW!! LETS CALL IT THE NOT TOO LATE "EARLY BIRD",.. SEAN

Simon,

Valuations in many instances are subjective. In any market, buyers dictate prices. However, not every homeowner is linked to Wall Street. While you may feel prices are still inflated, the price of homes are based on a number of factors such as size, condition, location, commutability and inventory in each particular community. Also, many sellers believe there is an intrinsic value because there is a lack of land to build on. Sometimes the lot size is worth more than the home itself.

You should have a good agent who will represent you as a buyer's agent, who will work in your interest and attempt to find out the motivation of the buyer as well as historical information as to days on the market and current accurate comparable sales. Until you make an offer the answer will always be know.

I constantly represent buyer clients. Without obligation feel free to reach out with any further questions. Remember, knowledge is power.

Steve Geiger
Associate Broker
Houlihan Lawrence
914-328-8400
sgeiger@houlihanlawrence.com

Simon,

One thing that is a strength of the the Rivertowns is the great commute to the City. There is always a demand for property here, that is why you haven't seen dramatic drops in the prices. Homes that are priced correctly and are in move-in condition often have mutiple bids even in this market. Right now it just takes longer to find that qualified buyer and for some sellers they don't have to sell. There are people however that really do need to sell and you are correct in your thought of "just make them an offer." You may end up with a really great buy. If they say no or don't even counter you could always up the offer. If there was ever a time to try it, it's now.

Debra Goodwin

You need to have a basis for your offer. Check to see what similar properties have sold for in the last 3-6 months and determine your value from there. Each seller may be in a different financial situation so you never know unless you try, first they need to bi in dire need to get out fast and last, not owe more than your offer is. You alos may consider submitting a letter with why you are offering what you are along with listing sheets of the sold properties as evidence to how you got your value. Good luck Simon

Simon,

Rather then abitrarily low balling, find the most recent comparable sale and offer 5-10% below that. While the offer is low, it has some tangible, supportable basis and the seller will be more likely to listen and make a counter offer.

Hi, If there is any market to try it in it's this one! The seller will either accept, reject, or counter. Every sellers situation is different. You should have somebody that has access to the MLS pull the listings you have interest because tom is right, the listings usually take time to update on here. My office is in Tarrytown, let me know if you want some more "no strings attached" advice.

Sincerely,

Christopher Pagli
Associate Broker
Legends Realty Group
914.406.9023

You may find that listings on Trulia are not updated sometimes. Check your local MLS to verify. Blindly throwing numbers out there will most likely not yield you great results. Sure you can get "lucky" - and your odds will be better than winning lotto - but you've got to know the area or work with an agent who does.