5 Tips to Make Sure Your Offer Stands Out!

Even though the scales have tipped to be in favor of the buyers here in Long Beach, the well priced properties are still moving and often even have multiple offers. So, how can you stand out in this market to get a GREAT deal on your purchase? Here are 5 ways to make sure that your offer stands out and to ensure you get the best possible price.

1. Pre-Approval Letter- It sounds obvious, but many buyers want to see a property before they finish understanding what loan they will have. Take the time to meet with a lender so you can understand what type of loan you have and what the costs will be to get that loan.
2. Cover Letter - It may sound corny, but letting the seller understand that you are more than just numbers on a piece of paper will help them to connect with you. This is particularly important if you are asking for a discount or more than 1 offer is on the table. Tell them who you are, why you like the house, what you do, even where you went to college because you never know what will connect with them :)
3. FICO Scores - Show the first page of your FICO scores that show all 3 bureaus (make sure to mark out your SSN if it is displayed). This will show the seller that your pre-approval is not hiding anything and that you are well prepared.
4. Proof of Funds - Whether you are buying with a 100% loan program like CalHFA, or are putting 20% down, show a bank statement that shows you have funds available. This gives the seller and the listing agent confidence that you have funds for reserve requirements or that you really do have the money to put down.
5. Printed Offer - Ensure that youre agent has printed out the offer from a nice printer instead of using carbon forms. Your offer will look cleaner and rise to the top :)

Try preparing your offer with these 5 tips in mind so you can get the Long Beach Home or Long Beach Condo that is right for you. These will help you to get a discount on a property or just make sure that you get that HOT property for less.