Answering 10 Real Estate Questions We’re Hearing Right Now

Today, we’re answering 10 of the biggest questions we’re hearing from St. Louis buyers and sellers right now, and we’re keeping our answers short, sweet, and honest. So let's get right into it!

1. Should I buy now, or am I better off waiting to see what happens with rates?

NOW... if now is right for you. We know that’s not the exciting market prediction people want, but nobody can perfectly time the market. Rates could fall. Prices could change. Competition could increase. But none of those things are guaranteed.

Instead of trying to predict what the market will do next, we’d rather look at whether you’re financially and personally ready to buy right now. If the numbers work, you plan to stay for a while, and you find the right home, buying now can make sense. And if rates eventually fall enough to make refinancing worthwhile, that may be an option down the road. Move based on your life, not a prediction.

2. If a house has been sitting on the market for a while, does that automatically mean there’s something wrong with it?

RARELY. There are plenty of reasons a good house can sit. Maybe it started out overpriced. Maybe the photos or presentation didn’t do it justice. Maybe the timing was off. Maybe a previous contract fell through for reasons completely unrelated to the house.

Once a listing has been available for a while, buyers can start assuming something must be wrong, which sometimes creates an opportunity for the buyer willing to take a closer look.

3. How much negotiating power do buyers actually have right now?

IT DEPENDS. Overall, buyers have more negotiating power than they’ve had in some recent years, but we’re still seeing a seller’s market, and the experience can vary dramatically from one property to another.

A move-in-ready home in a desirable area that’s priced correctly may still attract plenty of attention. A home that needs work or has been sitting for 30+ days may give you much more room to negotiate. There isn’t one market. Every property has its own.

4. Should sellers still expect multiple offers?

NO. Can multiple offers still happen? Absolutely. Should you list your home assuming they will? Definitely not.

The homes generating the most competition tend to be the ones that are priced intentionally, presented well, and positioned correctly from the beginning. Sellers still have an advantage in many situations, but simply putting a house on the market isn’t enough to guarantee a bidding war.

5. If we’re thinking about selling next spring, when should we start preparing?

YESTERDAY 😉 The next best time? TODAY. Preparing to sell doesn't mean you need a sign in the yard six months early.

Starting now gives you time to meet with your REALTOR®, understand what your home may be worth, identify which projects are actually worth doing, make improvements without rushing, and create a strategy for your eventual move. If spring is even on your radar, now is a great time to schedule that first conversation.

6. How much should I worry about resale value when choosing my next home?

HOW LONG ARE YOU PLANNING TO STAY? Resale value matters, but you also have to actually live in the house. If you expect to move again relatively soon, we'd pay closer attention to factors that could affect future marketability. If you're buying a home you hope to enjoy for many years, you may be more comfortable prioritizing features that specifically fit your life.

Either way, things like location, layout, lot, and unique property characteristics deserve consideration because they're much harder to change later.

7. Are price reductions a red flag or an opportunity?

AN OPPORTUNITY! A price reduction doesn't automatically mean something is wrong with the house. Sometimes the original price simply missed the market. Sometimes seller circumstances change. And sometimes a home that's been overlooked becomes a much stronger value at its new price.

Don't dismiss a house because you see a price reduction. Take another look.

8. How do I know whether a house is overpriced BEFORE I make an offer?

HAVE A GOOD REALTOR®. The list price is only one piece of the puzzle, and Zillow estimates and price-per-square-foot calculations don't tell the whole story either.

We look at comparable sales, condition, updates, location, lot, layout, current competition, and what's happening in that specific pocket of the market to help determine what a property is actually worth.The question isn't just “What are they asking?” It's “What does the market support?”

9. Is a contingent offer basically impossible right now?

NO. A home-sale contingency can make an offer more complicated, but that doesn't automatically make it a dealbreaker. It depends on the property, how much competition you're facing, the seller's priorities, and how strong the rest of your offer is.

Sometimes the answer is no. Sometimes there are ways to structure the offer strategically. Don't assume something is impossible before you've explored your options.

10. Should I make improvements before selling or just sell the house as-is?

MAKE STRATEGIC IMPROVEMENTS. We're not telling every seller to renovate their kitchen or spend tens of thousands of dollars before listing. In fact, small improvements can go a surprisingly long way. Fresh paint, minor repairs, updated lighting, cleaned-up landscaping, decluttering, and a really good deep clean can completely change a buyer's first impression.

Before you start spending money, though, talk to your REALTOR®. We'd rather help you prioritize the handful of things that will matter most than watch you spend money on projects buyers won't care about.

If you noticed a theme throughout these answers, it's that real estate is rarely black and white. The right answer usually depends on the property, the market, your timeline, your finances, and your goals. That's why having a good REALTOR® in your corner matters. Our job isn't to tell every client to buy, sell, offer more, or wait. It's to help you understand the market in the context of your specific situation so you can make a decision you feel good about.

Have another real estate question we didn't answer? Send it our way! We're always here to help.