If you are relocating to the Salem Oregon area from another state, especially on the East Coast, you need to realize that negotiations may be different here. Oregon is an “escrow” state meaning that real estate agents handle normal real estate transactions. We bring attorneys in for complex transactions or when there is a problem. Most East Coast states are “attorney review” states which means attorneys are involved in every transaction.

Here are some things that might help you negotiate with a seller in the Salem Oregon area:

• Remember that buyers and sellers have to agree to dual agency in the state of Oregon. If you attend an open house or look at a home with a listing agent remember than anything you tell them will be shared with the seller of that property.
• Start to research your local market. What other homes are listed for is not as important as what they sell for.
• How long has the home been on the market? Beware of the “DOM game” that some real estate agents play. Just because the WVMLS may list a home on the market for a short time it may not be true, you really want to know the total time it has been on the market. Look at the history of the home sale. If the seller changes real estate agents, it may appear to have been on the market a shorter time than is accurate.
• How much does the seller owe? You won’t know exact numbers, but you need to know if the seller is at risk for a short sale.
• Look closely at the home BEFORE writing an offer. Some major red flags such as roof in poor condition, some types of foundation cracks, old furnace, etc are going to give you an idea of how well the home has been maintained. Poorly maintained homes often have unexpected issues so take that into consideration when writing an offer.
• Know the market conditions. It is important to know what is happening in our local Salem Metro area real estate market. Knowing what the housing trends are will determine what type of negotiation strategy you should use.