We want to add some additional thoughts that may be obvious but are probably worth stating: in real estate, market conditions are forever fluid. Sales prices are moving targets and nothing is ever completely predictable.

For the past 3-4 years, demand has been so high in Manhattan, most offers that didn’t come in at or close to full price generally weren’t accepted. This is still largely true today, but there are signs some sellers may be willing to negotiate a bit – especially if they set the initial asking price too high, or their apartment sits in a neighborhood with too much inventory.

Current trends indicate the rate of increase in prices is softening a bit. You or your agent must, of course, be knowledgeable about actual market conditions at the time you make an offer.

In any case, we believe that if you seriously want an apartment as your home, don’t pussyfoot around. With the help of your agent, determine its value and make an offer.

And when you do, our advice is, be prepared to step up to the plate and make it your best.

There may be a time and place for low-ball offers (as when buying a fixer, a rental or you have some logic and facts to support a low offer), but as long as conditions remain generally as they are today – we don’t recommend this approach. You don’t want to risk not getting a home you love because you insult, without compelling reasons, a seller. Believe us, seller’s generally sell to people they like, or that they find a reason to like. They don’t like insulting offers, and by extension the people that make them.

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