Tag bidding wars

BUYING ADVICE

Seller Counter Offer vs Market Value What Buyers Should Know

Hands counting a fan of U.S. dollar bills on a marble table representing money decisions in a home purchase and counter offer negotiations.

When A Seller Counters Way Over Asking A reader sent me a story that is frustrating but not rare. A home was listed at $650,000. The buyer made a full price offer on day one. By the end of the…

Alex Powell
September 26, 2025

BUYING ADVICE

How to Verify Competing Offers in an Escalation Clause

Two athletes at the starting line of a track race, symbolizing competition and the need to verify offers in an escalation clause.

Understanding Escalation Clauses and How to Protect Yourself One of my readers recently reached out with a great question about an escalation clause. They are in the middle of buying a property in the Midwest, where the market is still…