THE “PRICING” PUZZLE

If you need to sell your Escondido area home, but it’s lost value since you bought it, you’re facing a pricing puzzle. But before deciding on a fair price that may be below what you really want, consider the costs of not selling by asking too much.

If your home sits on the market, waiting for a higher offer, you’ve got to figure in the costs of continuing your monthly mortgage payments, utilities, maintenance and insurance.

Compare the asking prices of similar homes to the actual sales prices, often determined more by the lenders than the buyers. If you’re asking more than your home’s current real value, the required appraisal will show that, and the lender won’t approve the buyer’s loan, leaving you back at Square One.

Walk in the buyer’s shoes and do your homework. Tour similar homes listed in your area (we will be glad to assist with this). Compare their price per square foot and see how yours stacks up against the competition in terms of value. This should help you arrive at a realistic and aggressive asking price that will hopefully be your sale price!

The amount of local inventory determines your price, too. The more homes that are on the market For Sale in your area, the more competition there is for yours.

There are several factors that must be considered before establishing a realistic value. Starting with an accurate value (in the current market especially) is as important as what is done for marketing the property, when it comes to a successful house sale.