Me: "Hi (Listing Agent's Name), I have an offer for your listing that went on the market this morning on Blauman Street. How do you want me to deliver the papers? Fax? Email? Carrier pigeon?"
Listing Agent: "Hi Erick, good to hear from you. We have received twelve (12) good offers since the house went on the market this morning. Yours will be number 13. 
Me: "There was a teaming horde of Realtors and customers all around the house this morning when my customers saw the house."
Listing Agent: "Three other agents called saying they are emailing offers."
Me: "Wow. The last house my customers bid on had over 30 offers in three days."
Listing Agent: "The seller has asked us to take no more offers after 3:00 PM today. The seller shall review the three highest and best offers around 5:00 PM today."
In April, 2008, buyers began buying homes in Prince William County in record-breaking numbers.
Between 1,580 and 2,200 homes have sold each month in Prince William County each and every month since April, 2008.
The inventory of homes actively "FOR SALE" has steadily declined from 7,000+ in January, 2008, to fewer than 1,500 homes "FOR SALE" today.
Meanwhile, over 2,000 homes sold in the county in June, 2009.
SAMPLE EMAILS FROM LISTING AGENTS RESPONDING TO OFFERS I PRESENTED ON BEHALF OF BUYERS
"Erick. Good to hear from you. Sorry to tell you that the seller selected another offer, your client's offer was not the winning bid. Best Regards."
"Mr. Blackwelder, your offer was not among the top three. We got 22 offers. Your customer did not get the house."
"Sorry to be the bearer of sad news. Your buyers contract was not the winning contract."
And so on... and so on...
Look at it this way, when a house gets 15 offers, one party gets the house, while 14 other folks sadly move on, lick their wounds, and try again.
So, if you are bidding on homes, losing homes to other bids, look inside yourself and ask, "Did I hold anything back? Did I offer $440,000 for a $400,000 house, but I would have gladly paid $450,000? Boy do I regret holding back."
So what's the point?
The point is, if you want to have your best shot at getting a house right now, toss your "No Regrets" price on the table.
Hold nothing back.
Bid as high as you can.
Then remember, if your bid wins the house, the appraisal will protect you from over-paying for the house.
For example, a family I am helping right now bid $425,000 for a house listed at $360,000 and their bid won the house.
The buyer's mortgage company ordered an appraisal through Fannie Mae. The appraiser valued the house at $395,000.
They are paying $395,000 for the house.
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Erick Blackwelder or Peggy James of Erick and Company - Exit 1st Choice Realty, Woodbridge VA. Realtors®, call 703-590-2252 list your property for sale or to purchase a property in Lake Ridge, Westridge, Old Bridge Estates, River Falls, Middle County, Cannon Bluff, Meadowbrook Woods, Blooms Crossing, Manassas Park, Beaver Creek, Hunter's Ridge, Brittany, Manassas, Montclair, Dumfries, Occoquan, Dale City, Nokesville, or anywhere in Prince William County.
President Lyndon Johnson lead a vigorous campaign through the halls of Congress that lead to Fair Housing legislation. The Republican Party members in Congress backed Fair Housing, while most of the congressional Democrat Party members opposed Fair Housing. Johnson, a Democrat, worked the phones day and night, calling congressional Democrats, calling in favors that persuaded enough Democrats to cross party lines and vote for Fair Housing, and against their party leaders.
