Cash is king when competing for a home, but a buyer’s odds of winning a bidding war also increase significantly by waiving the financing contingency or conducting a pre-inspection.
Prospective homebuyers who offered all cash were more than four times as likely to win a bidding war as those who didn’t in 2021, making it by far the most effective strategy to win a home when there are multiple offers.
Waiving the financing contingency and conducting a pre-inspection, both of which help a deal close faster, are also effective strategies. Buyers who used those strategies were 31% and 25% more likely to win than those who didn’t, respectively. A financing contingency allows a buyer to cancel a deal if their loan doesn’t come through by a certain date, and a pre-inspection means a buyer completes an inspection of the home before making an offer.
That’s according to an analysis of thousands of offers written by Redfin agents on behalf of their homebuying clients in 2021.
Escalation clauses (stipulating that a buyer is willing to increase their offer if a higher competing bid comes in) and waiving the inspection contingency (which allows a buyer to cancel or negotiate if there are repair issues) don’t increase potential homebuyers’ chances of winning a bidding war. That’s likely because those strategies are so common in a competitive market, and often don’t benefit one buyer relative to the competition.
Effective bidding-war strategies are especially important for homebuyers in today’s market, with a limited number of homes for sale making each one a hot commodity. More than half of Redfin offers faced competition each month of 2021 and competition has intensified, with January marking the most competitive month on record. Competition for homes is contributing to rapidly rising home prices, with more than 30% of U.S. homes selling above list price each month last year. The share has since increased, climbing to 43% in February.
Competition could ease some by the second half of the year if the supply of for-sale homes increases and mortgage rates rise, but bidding wars are still likely to be commonplace.
Buyers who can’t afford to pay in cash can still find ways to stand out from the crowd.
Fort Worth, TX Redfin agent Amanda Peterson said she always educates her clients about the likelihood of competition and advises them to get their finances prepared, especially in the current market where there’s such low supply.
“I let buyers know what to expect and try to prepare them, financially and emotionally. The home they’re touring will probably sell for significantly over asking price,” Peterson said. “We have detailed conversations about how much over asking price they’re willing to go and which contingencies they can waive. If a buyer has a low down payment or another scenario that doesn’t typically win a bidding war, I’ve had success explaining buyers’ unique situations to the listing agent and making it clear that their finances are reliable and the deal will close.”
Redfin agents also report that it’s common to put in offers above the asking price–which means buyers may want to start their search with homes listed below their price range. Many buyers are also waiving the appraisal contingency, which means the buyer commits to paying the agreed-upon price, even if the appraisal comes in lower. While Redfin’s data doesn’t track this strategy, it has become increasingly common in recent years, according to Redfin agents.
Every home sale is different. If you encounter a bidding war, talk to your local Redfin agent to come up with the most effective combination of strategies for you.
