What percentage is a reasonable offer?

Asked by: Mr. Alberto Walter II  |  Last update: February 27, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (25 votes)

Be careful, while (almost) everything is negotiable, and you're allowed a lot more “give” in expensive items, overzealous haggling will turn off the seller and lowballing should be steered clear of. A good rule of thumb is any offer below 25 percent of the ticket price is a slap in the face.

What is considered a reasonable offer?

Less than 10% below: If the property is in fair condition but requires some cosmetic repairs, this is a suitable price range. If the home is move-in ready and doesn't require any cosmetic updating, shoot for an offer closer to the asking price. This will decrease the chances of requiring a counteroffer.

What percentage is a lowball offer?

However, what is considered a low ball offer on a house is generally considered to be significantly below the asking price or the market value of the property. This percentage usually falls around the 10% to 20% mark.

Is it okay to offer 10% below the asking price for a house?

Offers of around 5-10% below asking price are perfectly acceptable. Any more than that would be significantly below market value and rejected.

Is 10% a lowball offer?

Just know that an offended seller might not want to negotiate with you any further if they can go with someone not trying to undercut them. 'And fyi 10% is not a lowball offer. 30% would be.

How to Calculate Percentages: 5 Easy Methods

41 related questions found

Is 15% off a lowball offer?

Buyers might be trying to get a deal, test the seller's flexibility, or simply see if they can score a bargain. Here are some common characteristics of low-ball offers and what to look for: Significantly below asking price: Typically 10% to 20% or more below the listing price.

Can I offer 50k less on a house?

Probably not a good idea to go in with a lowball offer $50,000 below asking price. A whole year on the market, with price reductions? Go ahead and roll the dice. The longer a house has been on the market, the less of an upper hand the seller has in negotiation.”

Can I offer 20% below asking price?

Dropping an offer this low is justified if the home needs extensive repairs to bring it up to code or make it livable. If the property has problems like roof damage, plumbing and electrical issues or foundation problems, it may be reasonable to offer 20% below the asking price.

Is it a buyers or sellers market in 2024?

Despite the 30-year low, the market is showing signs of turning as home-buying picked up in the past month of 2024, said the National Association of Realtors, which released the data.

How much is too much to ask for in a counter offer?

For most entry-level positions, the lower start of the range will be the most appropriate pay bracket. If the salary offered is within the low range for similar positions, consider an initial counteroffer 10-20% higher, and if the salary offered is within the average range, consider a counteroffer 5-7% higher.

Do sellers ever accept lower offers?

A low offer may be upsetting to the sellers, but if you and your real estate agent present the offer along with an expression of your appreciation for the property, it's more likely to be accepted than a low offer accompanied by a half-complete contract or an insult about the property's condition.

What is an acceptable low ball offer on a house?

What is considered a lowball offer? As a rule, anything below 10 percent of the initial asking price is considered a lowball offer. A lowball offer for a house listed at $500,000 would fall around $450,000. That being said, the market determines what is considered low balling.

Is it rude to make a low offer on a house?

If it's low — say, less than 21 days — you'll need a strong offer. If it's been on the market for more than 90 days, though, then it's okay to present a low offer.

What is the golden rule when negotiating offers?

The first Golden Rule is essential to success in any negotiation: Information Is Power—So Get It! It's critical to ask questions and get as much relevant information as you can throughout the negotiation process. You need sufficient information to set aggressive, realistic goals and to evaluate the other side's goals.

What is a fair offer on a house?

If this is The One, then you will want to make a house offer that is at least near the asking price — perhaps within 5 percent to 10 percent. For most sellers, coming in close to what they want to get and what the market bears for that particular home is considered a good offer.

What is considered a reasonable price?

Reasonable Price means the price that someone is willing to pay for a good, material or service. Seen in 2 SEC filings. Reasonable Price means a price that includes a premium which is either in effect at the time of purchase or will come into effect in the future. This applies to the purchase of certain bonds.

Should I sell now or wait until 2024?

If you can afford to move and want to move, selling your home in 2024 may be the best timing since there's no way to know what lies ahead.

Will there be a recession in 2025 in the housing market?

Will there be a housing recession in 2025? No — experts do not think a housing market crash is looming.

Are housing prices going to go down?

Homebuyers and sellers should face easier conditions in 2025, but affordability will likely remain a challenge since mortgage rates are only expected to go down a little bit and home prices will continue to rise.

What is the lowest you can offer on a house?

It's also acceptable to offer 20% or more below asking when the house has been priced significantly higher than what other homes in the neighborhood have sold for. If comparable homes have sold for much lower than the list price of the house you're interested in, that could work in your favor.

How long is too long for a house to be on the market?

by Elegran | Forbes Global Properties

Stale homes last more than 30 to 90 days after they've been listed on the market. This may raise a red flag for buyers, who begin to wonder why the property isn't selling. In some cases, they ask the seller's agent, “what's wrong with it?”

Who typically presents an offer to the seller?

This offer is typically delivered by the buyer's agent to the listing agent, and the listing agent passes on the offer to the seller. The listing agent's job is to help the seller make a decision as fast as possible without rushing them, as well as handle any negotiations.

Is it OK to offer 10% below asking price house?

Don't mix up offering under asking price and lowballing, either. It's often reasonable to offer 1 to 4 percent below asking price, but putting in an offer for half (or even 75 percent) of the home's list price is the best way to offend the seller and get your offer thrown in the trash.

What house can I buy with 50k salary?

A simple way to estimate affordability is to multiply your annual income by 2.5. With a $50,000 salary, this rule suggests that you can afford a home worth up to $125,000. This is a general guideline that doesn't account for your specific financial situation or location.

Is earnest money refundable?

Is Earnest Money Refundable? Earnest money isn't always refundable. The good news for buyers is in most situations, as long as a buyer acts in good faith, earnest money is refundable. As long as any contract agreements are not broken or decision deadlines are met, buyers usually get their earnest money back.