{"id":16986,"date":"2025-09-23T04:04:37","date_gmt":"2025-09-23T11:04:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=16986"},"modified":"2026-04-14T11:35:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T18:35:15","slug":"do-you-accept-first-offer-on-a-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/do-you-accept-first-offer-on-a-house\/","title":{"rendered":"Do I Accept the First Offer on My House, or Wait and See?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>After listing your home for sale, you eagerly, nervously \u2026 anxiously await the news that someone wants to buy it. Eventually, the call comes. But your euphoria at the news that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-real-estate-contract\/\">an offer has been made<\/a> can quickly change to disappointment if that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-how-much-should-i-offer-on-a-house\/\">offer is significantly lower<\/a> than your asking price.<\/p>\n<p>Disappointment may give way to despair, confusion, or frustration as you try to decide how to respond: do you accept the first offer on a house, even if it\u2019s less than you want, counter and open negotiations, or stall in the hopes of another, better offer coming along?<\/p>\n<p>To help you evaluate your first offer, we\u2019ll walk you through key consideration points, how to weigh the strength of the offer, encourage you to assess your objectives, and how to factor in market conditions. For more expertise, top real estate agent <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/agents\/kris-shook-wa-109700\">Kris Shook<\/a>, who works with 77% more single-family homes than the average agent in Tacoma, Washington, shares insights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"geo-cta widget-cta widget-cta--content     widget-cta--dark widget-cta--dark-blue-gradient\">\n    <div class=\"widget-element--content\">\n        <div class=\"widget-element--content-header\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"homelight logo\" class=\"widget-element--logo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/ccprototypev5\/images\/logo-small-cta.png\" width=\"106\" height=\"25\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n        \n                <h3 class=\"cta-headline widget--bold\">A Top-Rated Agent Can Help You Field Buyer Offers<\/h3>\n                        <p>An experienced agent can guide you on whether or not the offers you receive on your home are worth considering. With HomeLight&#8217;s free Agent Match tool, it takes just two minutes to match clients with the best agents in your market.<\/p>\n        \n                <div class=\"widget-element--buttons\">\n            <a data-type=\"In Content CTA\" href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/find-agent\/quiz\/seller?#\/qaas=0\/\" class=\"cta-click-track widget-element--button\">Find an Agent<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"section--1\" data-toc-header=\"Here\u2019s why you should take the first offer seriously\" data-toc-type=\"head\"><\/div>\n<h2>Here\u2019s why you should take the first offer seriously<\/h2>\n<p>Should you take the first offer on your house? It depends. Sometimes it works out to negotiate or wait for another offer, but an old real estate adage states that <a href=\"https:\/\/www.streetdirectory.com\/travel_guide\/72245\/real_estate\/why_your_first_offer_is_usually_your_best_offer.html\">the first offer is the best offer<\/a>. Even if the offer is disappointing, there may be good reasons to give it serious consideration. Here are a few:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>It\u2019s an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/cash-offer-for-my-home\/\">all-cash offer<\/a> with no lender involved<\/li>\n<li>You found your new home and want to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-how-to-buy-a-house-while-selling-your-own\/\">buy and sell at the same time<\/a><\/li>\n<li>You need a victory right now (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/sell-house-for-job-relocation\/#:~:text=Need%20to%20sell%20your%20house,in%20fewer%20days%20on%20average.&amp;text=With%20an%20agent%20managing%20the,ready%20for%20your%20big%20move.\">relocating for work<\/a> or going through a divorce)<\/li>\n<li>Your house has been on the market for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/how-long-does-it-take-to-sell-a-house\/\">three months<\/a> or more<\/li>\n<li>You\u2019re headed into the doldrums of the selling season<\/li>\n<li>It\u2019s an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/i-inherited-a-house-and-want-to-sell-it\/\">inherited house, and you want to sell it<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Price is not a priority<\/li>\n<li>The buyer really stands out<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if this first offer is on the lower side, you can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/counter-offer-real-estate\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">respond with a counteroffer<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to boost that number into your goal range. As a seller, you want to negotiate with a first offer type of buyer \u2014 you can use their attachment and fear of losing out to a hypothetical higher offer to leverage a better deal.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you turn down the first offer outright, you\u2019re taking a gamble. The longer your home sits on the market, the less likely you\u2019ll receive a higher offer. Shook shares his perspective:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cAt the end of the day, I tell my clients that if you don&#8217;t like the offer, you don&#8217;t have to choose it \u2014 it&#8217;s your choice. But the longer we stay on the market, the less likely we&#8217;re going to receive the offer that you guys want, because the longer we&#8217;re on the market, the longer that people are going to look at it as if it\u2019s not priced right. Eventually, somebody\u2019s going to come in and write another offer under list price.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"section--2\" data-toc-header=\"How to weigh the strength of the offer\" data-toc-type=\"head\"><\/div>\n<h2>How to weigh the strength of the offer<\/h2>\n<p>Before you say yes to your first offer, take some time to consider its value. Some aspects to consider include:<\/p>\n<p><b>Price<\/b>: Obviously, the closer the offer is to your listing price, the better. All things being equal, if the first offer is within <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-what-is-reasonable-to-offer-below-asking-price\/\">10% of your listing price<\/a>, it\u2019s worth serious consideration.<\/p>\n<p><b>Cash vs. financing<\/b>: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/what-is-a-cash-offer-in-real-estate\/\">Cash offers<\/a> usually result in a faster sale than mortgage-backed offers; if speed is an important aspect of the sale, this could make a significant difference.<\/p>\n<p>Even if a buyer has been <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-pre-approval-vs-pre-qualified\/\">pre-approved<\/a> by a lender, the loan could still be denied or delayed due to a change in job status, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/what-can-lower-appraisal\/\">low home appraisal<\/a>, or a dozen different reasons. <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to a recent <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/real-estate-top-agent-insights-hub\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">HomeLight survey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of top real estate agents throughout the country, financing difficulties are one of the top reasons home sales fall through.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Depending on your selling circumstances, a cash offer from HomeLight\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/simple\">Simple Sale<\/a> platform may be the solution you need for a quick, confident sale. We\u2019ll provide a no-obligation, all-cash offer within 24 hours. If you accept it, your sale can close in as few as 10 days, often concluding with a moving date of your choosing.<\/p>\n<p><b>Contingencies<\/b>: Various types of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/how-to-buy-house-contingent-on-selling-yours\/\">purchase contingencies<\/a> can delay a sale. If specific criteria aren\u2019t met, the deal can fall through; i.e., the sale is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/what-does-contingent-mean-in-real-estate\/\">contingent<\/a> upon various factors outlined in the offer. Therefore, the fewer contingencies tied to an offer, the more likely the deal will reach closing.<\/p>\n<p>Common contingencies include an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-most-purchase-agreements-are-contingent-on-which-two-items\/\">inspection contingency<\/a> and an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/what-is-an-appraisal-contingency\/\">appraisal contingency<\/a>. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-contingent-upon-selling-house\/\">home sale contingency<\/a> in which the buyer\u2019s purchase is contingent on selling their home first is also common, but can be more problematic by either delaying closing or canceling it indefinitely if the buyer\u2019s home fails to sell.<\/p>\n<p><b>Buyer flexibility<\/b>: If the seller needs to postpone closing or defer moving, it\u2019s incumbent upon the buyers to be flexible if they want their offer to be accepted. One solution might be a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/sell-your-home-and-rent-it-back\/\">rent-back<\/a> that would financially compensate a patient buyer if the seller needs more time to transition after the sale.<\/p>\n<div id=\"section--3\" data-toc-header=\"Does the offer meet your primary selling objective?\" data-toc-type=\"head\"><\/div>\n<h2>Does the offer meet your primary selling objective?<\/h2>\n<p>When you partner with a top real estate agent, they can help you identify your selling objectives and priorities. For instance, if you need to sell quickly because you\u2019ve already purchased your next home or have to move due to a job transfer, then a quick cash offer with few or no contingencies is appealing, even if it\u2019s slightly below your listing price.<\/p>\n<p>Finding a top-performing agent with knowledge of your area is easy with HomeLight\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/find-real-estate-agents\">Agent Match<\/a>. Just input some basic information into this free online platform to find your match.<\/p>\n<div id=\"section--4\" data-toc-header=\"How market conditions can influence your decision\" data-toc-type=\"head\"><\/div>\n<h2>How market conditions can influence your decision<\/h2>\n<p>Market conditions are another factor that could influence your decision on whether or not to accept that first offer on your home.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rocketmortgage.com\/learn\/buyers-market-vs-sellers-market\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">buyer\u2019s market<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, housing supply exceeds buyer demand, causing homes to sit on the market longer and decrease in price over time. If a nearby home similar to yours (called a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/comps-for-my-house\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">comp<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) sells for less than your listing price, then a first offer reflecting that price is totally valid. Shook provides this example:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOne of my clients received an offer $10,000 lower than what their home was listed for. I know why, because an identical home next to them just sold for $10,000 less. Now, if the homeowners sold their home under list price for a reason \u2014 maybe they needed to get out of there and move, or something happened \u2014 and they just took the first offer that was $10,000 less, then, unfortunately, that affects you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even if you receive an offer for more than a comparable home just sold for, your neighbor\u2019s sale price may haunt you when an appraiser <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/what-is-a-home-appraisal\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">values your home against recent sales<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the area.<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"section--5\" data-toc-header=\"1. Are you receiving multiple offers in a hot market?\" data-toc-type=\"sub\"><\/div>\n<h3>1. Are you receiving multiple offers in a hot market?<\/h3>\n<p>In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/what-is-a-sellers-market\/\">seller\u2019s market,<\/a> when inventory is low and buyer demand is high \u2013 especially when mortgage rates are low \u2013 it\u2019s common to receive <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/multiple-offers-highest-and-best\/\">multiple offers<\/a>. In situations like this, Shook says Tacoma sellers can accept offers as they come in or schedule an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.rocketmortgage.com\/learn\/offer-date\">offer review date<\/a> to allow time to receive multiple offers. \u201cThis puts the review window in your control, rather than the buyer\u2019s,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<div id=\"section--6\" data-toc-header=\"2. Are homes in your market a dime a dozen?\" data-toc-type=\"sub\"><\/div>\n<h3>2. Are homes in your market a dime a dozen?<\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As Shook&#8217;s example illustrated, in a<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/sellers-vs-buyers-market\/\"> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">buyer\u2019s market<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, inventory exceeds buyer demand, resulting in homes remaining on the market longer and often decreasing in price. In HomeLight\u2019s <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/2025-top-agent-insights-ai-edition\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q2 2025 industry trends survey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, top agents agreed that the majority of the country is experiencing a buyer\u2019s market. In our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/real-estate-top-agent-insights-hub\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Q3 survey<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, we asked agents to share the best pricing strategy for today\u2019s market. The majority, 50% of agents, recommend pricing slightly below market value to attract multiple offers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Do-I-Accept-the-First-Offer-on-My-House-or-Wait-and-See_.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"775\" height=\"1288\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Do-I-Accept-the-First-Offer-on-My-House-or-Wait-and-See_-775x1288.jpg\" class=\"attachment-content size-content\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Do-I-Accept-the-First-Offer-on-My-House-or-Wait-and-See_-775x1288.jpg 775w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Do-I-Accept-the-First-Offer-on-My-House-or-Wait-and-See_-768x1276.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Do-I-Accept-the-First-Offer-on-My-House-or-Wait-and-See_-924x1536.jpg 924w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Do-I-Accept-the-First-Offer-on-My-House-or-Wait-and-See_-64x106.jpg 64w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Do-I-Accept-the-First-Offer-on-My-House-or-Wait-and-See_-128x213.jpg 128w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Do-I-Accept-the-First-Offer-on-My-House-or-Wait-and-See_-192x319.jpg 192w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Do-I-Accept-the-First-Offer-on-My-House-or-Wait-and-See_-432x718.jpg 432w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Do-I-Accept-the-First-Offer-on-My-House-or-Wait-and-See_-1920x3191.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Do-I-Accept-the-First-Offer-on-My-House-or-Wait-and-See_-301x500.jpg 301w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Do-I-Accept-the-First-Offer-on-My-House-or-Wait-and-See_-481x800.jpg 481w, https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/Do-I-Accept-the-First-Offer-on-My-House-or-Wait-and-See_.jpg 1540w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 775px) 100vw, 775px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div id=\"section--7\" data-toc-header=\"3. Has your home been sitting longer than the average \u2018days on market\u2019?\" data-toc-type=\"sub\"><\/div>\n<h3>3. Has your home been sitting longer than the average \u2018days on market\u2019?<\/h3>\n<p>The longer your home sits on the market, the more likely you are to receive low offers. The number of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/how-long-should-a-house-sit-on-the-market\/\">days on market<\/a> (DOM) is often considered a bellwether for price. A high number of DOM will typically indicate that your home is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/why-isnt-my-home-selling\/\">overpriced<\/a>. As Shook noted, the longer your home is on the market, the more likely it is to develop a stigma that it\u2019s not priced properly or that there is something wrong with it.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s why you should consider the first offer if it\u2019s not far off from your home\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/fair-market-value\/\">market value<\/a>. Waiting for a better offer puts you at risk of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-how-much-should-i-offer-on-a-house\/\">fielding lower offers<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"section--8\" data-toc-header=\"4. Does your home appeal to a niche or limited buyer pool?\" data-toc-type=\"sub\"><\/div>\n<h3>4. Does your home appeal to a niche or limited buyer pool?<\/h3>\n<p>If your home\u2019s location, condition, or features limit the buyer pool, it can also limit the number of offers you receive. There are some things you can do to appeal to a wider audience, but you can\u2019t eliminate power lines, train tracks, road noise, or the condition of neighboring properties. For this reason, it\u2019s wise to consider the first offer on the table.<\/p>\n<div id=\"section--9\" data-toc-header=\"Should I counter before I accept the first offer?\" data-toc-type=\"head\"><\/div>\n<h2>Should I counter before I accept the first offer?<\/h2>\n<p>Responding to the first buyer with a counteroffer poses some risk. They could accept, but they could also walk away, never to return \u2013 or, you might get drawn into an extended back-and-forth negotiation.<\/p>\n<p>Consult with your real estate agent to help you determine whether it\u2019s a good idea to counter and fine-tune the sticking points, such as price, contingencies, closing costs, or moving date. Keep in mind your objectives: do you need to sell quickly? Your agent might also have some insight into how motivated the buyer is.<\/p>\n<div id=\"section--10\" data-toc-header=\"To accept, or not to accept: Let\u2019s recap\" data-toc-type=\"head\"><\/div>\n<h2>To accept, or not to accept: Let\u2019s recap<\/h2>\n<p>An experienced agent can advise you on the best strategy once you receive your first offer. If you don\u2019t already have an agent, you can find an experienced real estate agent familiar with your area with HomeLight\u2019s free <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/find-real-estate-agents\">Agent Match<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><b>Consider accepting the first offer if\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>You\u2019re pressed for time and need to sell ASAP<\/li>\n<li>The offer is close to your home\u2019s market value (even if it\u2019s below your listing price)<\/li>\n<li>It\u2019s a cash offer<\/li>\n<li>You have a limited buyer pool<\/li>\n<li>You\u2019re in a buyer\u2019s market<\/li>\n<li>Your home has recently gone on and off the market<\/li>\n<li>An identical home to yours just sold for less<\/li>\n<li>Carrying costs of paying the mortgage, utilities, and insurance<\/li>\n<li>You\u2019re behind on mortgage payments and facing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/can-i-sell-my-home-if-it-is-in-foreclosure\/\">selling a house in foreclosure<\/a> or going through a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/what-does-short-sale-in-real-estate-mean\/\">short sale<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Reject the first offer outright if\u2026<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The offer is way below market value<\/li>\n<li>Your listing is new, and you have time to spare<\/li>\n<li>You\u2019re in a seller\u2019s market where multiple offers are common<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Take these factors into account, and know that ultimately, the choice is yours.<\/p>\n<p><i>Presley Attardo contributed to this story.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"geo-cta widget-cta widget-cta--content     widget-cta--dark widget-cta--dark-blue-gradient\">\n    <div class=\"widget-element--content\">\n        <div class=\"widget-element--content-header\">\n            <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"homelight logo\" class=\"widget-element--logo\" src=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/ccprototypev5\/images\/logo-small-cta.png\" width=\"106\" height=\"25\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n        \n                <h3 class=\"cta-headline widget--bold\">Get a Free Home Value Estimate<\/h3>\n                        <p>Enter a few details about your home and we\u2019ll provide you with a preliminary estimate of home value in less than two minutes. This won&#8217;t be a guarantee of what your home will sell for, but it is a helpful starting point.<\/p>\n        \n                <div class=\"widget-element--buttons\">\n            <a data-type=\"In Content CTA\" href=\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/simple-home-value\/quiz?#\/qaas=0\/\" class=\"cta-click-track widget-element--button\">Input Address<\/a>\n        <\/div>\n                    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>Header Image Source: (fizkes \/ ShutterStock)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Do you accept the first offer on your house, make a counter offer, or hold off for something better? See expert tips.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":215,"featured_media":16988,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"cybocfi_hide_featured_image":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[322,342],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16986","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-logistics","category-negotiations"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.0 (Yoast SEO v27.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Do I Accept the First Offer on My House, or Wait and See?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Do you accept the first offer on your house, make a counter offer, or hold off for something better? 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