How Do I Make An Offer On A House
One of the most common questions I get is: How do I make an offer on a home? Finding the perfect home is exciting—you can already picture yourself living there, arranging furniture, and making memories. But once you’ve set your sights on the one, the next step is making it yours. The process might seem overwhelming, especially if you’re unsure what to expect. That’s where I come in!
You’ve found the one—the home you can already picture yourself living in. It’s the place you don’t want to let slip away. So, how do you actually make an offer to ensure you’re the one getting the keys at the closing table?
Hi, I’m Katie Masters with Team MVE at Streetlight Realty, and today, I’m breaking down the process step by step so that you have clarity and confidence when it’s time to make an offer. Let’s dive in!
Get Pre-Approved
Before we ever start looking at homes, you should already have a pre-approval letter from a lender.
Why is this so important?
✅ It proves to the seller that you are financially qualified to buy the home.
✅ It gives you a clear budget, so you know what price range to focus on.
✅ Without it, your offer won’t be taken seriously—especially in a competitive market.
If you don’t have a lender yet, I can connect you with trusted professionals to get your pre-approval started.
Analyze the Market
Once you’re ready to make an offer, the next step is market research.
Since you’re working with me, I’ll analyze the comparable sales (comps) in the neighborhood to see what similar homes have sold for. I’ll also check if there are other offers on the table that might create competition for your offer.
After looking at the data, I’ll give you my honest opinion on where we should go in on price—whether that means offering at, above, or below the listing price.
Decide on Your Offer Terms
Your offer isn’t just about the price—it includes other important terms the seller will consider, such as:
✔️ Earnest Money Deposit – A good-faith deposit showing you’re serious about buying.
✔️ Contingencies – Things like financing, inspections, and appraisals that protect you.
✔️ Closing Timeline – When you’d like to finalize the purchase and get the keys.
If we’re in a multiple-offer situation, we may need to get creative to make your offer stand out. This could include adjusting contingencies, increasing earnest money, or offering a quicker closing timeline.
Submitting the Offer
Once we’ve worked out all the details, I’ll write up your offer and send it to you for review. We’ll go over everything again to make sure we’re on the same page before you sign.
Once you sign off, I’ll submit the offer to the listing agent.
Now, it’s a waiting game.
The seller has a few options:
1️⃣ Accept the offer – Congratulations! You’re under contract!
2️⃣ Reject the offer – If this happens, we regroup and decide on the next steps.
3️⃣ Counteroffer – If the seller wants to negotiate, we’ll discuss their terms and decide whether to accept or counter back.
If you agree to the counteroffer, I’ll have you sign off on it, and boom—you’re under contract! We’re now one step closer to the closing table.
What Happens After Your Offer is Accepted?
Once your offer is accepted, here’s what comes next:
✅ Home Inspections – We’ll schedule inspections to make sure there are no hidden issues with the home.
✅ Finalizing Financing – Your lender will order an appraisal and finalize your mortgage.
✅ Title & Closing Prep – The title company will verify legal ownership and prepare closing documents.
✅ Closing Day! – You’ll sign the final paperwork, and once everything is processed, you’ll get the keys to your new home! 🎉
Making an Offer Doesn’t Have to Be Stressful
Making an offer doesn’t have to feel stressful or mysterious—that’s why I’m here! As your agent, I’ll guide you every step of the way so you always know what’s coming next.
If you’re ready to buy a home in the Miami Valley area, let’s connect!
Learn More and Explore Homes!
Want to learn more about buying a home? Check out our videos for home buyers here and get more helpful tips and tricks on our home buyer education page.
If you’re ready to look at homes, visit Streetlight Realtors to find your dream home in the Dayton area.
Contact Team MVE
Ready to find your perfect home or need more help understanding home buying? Reach out to Team MVE:
- Jonas Helbert: (937) 626-4181
- Katie Masters: (937) 901-8177
- Email: mve@streetlightrealtors.com
We’re here to help make your home buying journey easy and fun. Let’s find your dream home together!
Follow us on all our socials:
SLR Experts
Streetlight Realty is located in Washington Twp, OH, and serves the entire Miami Valley. Whether you are looking to buy or sell real estate, we have experts who can assist you in the process. You can call Jonas Helbert at 937-626-4181 or Katie Masters at 937-901-8177 with any Real Estate questions. We are here to help!