help me make an offer on some land!

Wow it sure is a small world but I'm sure there are lots of carnies that went to wsc

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"I yam what I yam" Popeye (btw I yam a woman!)

no kidding. if i had a nickel for every carnie i met there...

I pm'ed you

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"I yam what I yam" Popeye (btw I yam a woman!)

Back to the land...(literally and figuratively!) I wouldn't be concerned with offending anyone. Give a lowballish offer to start the haggling. The other posters are right... the worse that could happen is they say no! And remember the listing agent works for the seller! Let us know how it works out!

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"I yam what I yam" Popeye (btw I yam a woman!)

I'd bargain on land size AND price. Offer $30,000 for 8 acres and let them get you to up price or get them to offer less acreage...

I have heard folks will refuse to respond to an offer and followed that advice buying a house- think folks are more sensitive about THEIR house though. But the worst that can happen if you offer $5000 for 100 acres is they don't reply, I expect they WILL reply to any offer of a higher amount close enough in their opinion to what they really want that they expect you might negotiate up to it. I suppose they might view the $40,000 for 5 acres offer from the guy who offered $5000 for 100 acres as from a whacko who is probably offering too little no matter what he offers?

You can offer what you wish. If the seller declines, you can go back in with another higher offer.

Get your own Realtor. The listing Realtor has a fiduciary relationship with the seller - not you! Comission will be the same. They will just split it.

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Only she who attempts the absurd can achieve the impossible

Not the best deal arrangement, IMO, but if you work with him, make sure and get all offers and counter offers, in writing.

i offered $33,000, they countered with $43,000. realtor stated that they won't consider an offer below $40,000.

i've got some thinking to do....

And so it begins! I guess my advice would be is that it really is buyers market

I just went to realtors.com in the area you spoke about.
I found one property that is 1.8 acres for 29,900 and the other was 2.3 acres for 38,500.

I know , I know, its not like you don't have enough to think about!!
Good luck.

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"I yam what I yam" Popeye (btw I yam a woman!)

Did you bid on the 2 acre lot or 8 acre?

Just cause he says he won't take an offer below 40 doesn't mean he won't.

Many years ago, before the boom, I put in a bid on a house - a low ball bid. It was refused. My partner in the sale (my boyfriend) & I broke up. A month after the offer, they came back asking if the offer was still open. This market is probably even more open to this kind of occurance.

Make one counter offer of say $35k, and let them know that it will be your final offer. They are playing hard ball and you can do the same. The realtor, family, is going to tell you what ever he can to get you to come up on the offer.
If they don't accept your offer, be ready and willing to walk away. If you really have your heart set on the place, then come in just below $40k and be willing to come up if you can. But in this market, the realtor and the seller are both up in the night if they think they can tell you what it is worth.
If they want to keep it cheap, the family member realtor can eat his fee and work with you to get the price you want.

I have a theory that you never want to buy anything so bad you can't walk away from it - garage sale, new car, house, anything. It has worked for me. I would wait them out. Never be eager. Let them come to you. And I bet they do.

Good luck.

I hope that offer was for eight acres and not two because if it was for two acres you don't have much room to negotiate. If it was for two they are probably real happy right now because they are thinking they will get of you what they wanted in the first place, almost $20,000 per acre.