Considering the times and the negative press, I have been continuously amazed so far this year at the number of multiple offer sales that have occurred in our office. It looks about 72% of the offers tendered on both our listings and with our buyers have been involved in a situation where as many as three offers have been in negotiation at the same time on one piece of property.

I think there are a couple of reasons for this phenomenon, which occurred last in the "boom" years when demand was very high and supply was very low.

1. Demand is still high and supply still is low for properly priced listings. Buyers are more informed than ever in this market year. The internet has opened the information doors so that anyone can compare, with ease, specific information about any property for sale. So, when a listing pops up that has value attuned to the market, buyers flock to it.

2. An upsurge in buyer agency has not only the buyers themselves, but their professional buyer agents on the look-out for value in the marketplace as well. Competition among these agents on behalf of their clients is centering on listings priced in accordance with current market conditions.

Sooooooooooo, what's the lesson here? It's nothing new, just even more important. Sellers!!  Price your property at or near whatever price you're willing to accept and then be firm in your negotiation. Buyers will come and maybe even bid your property's selling price up to a level higher than you would have ever gotten if you had asked that much in the first place. Either way, you will get more traffic which leads to more offers and you will sell your property more quickly. You might even be surprised at the final price you get.