Ask Susie
How much should I overbid in Orange County?
Direct answer How much to offer over asking in Orange County depends on the specific property's days on market, comparable sales, and how many competing offers are active — there's no universal percentage. Susie McCollom pulls current comparables before every offer to give clients a data-backed number, not a guess.
Why there's no single answer
Offering over asking only makes sense in the context of a specific property. A home that's been on the market a while may not warrant going above list at all, while a sharply priced listing with several active offers is a different situation entirely. The list price itself is a strategy choice by the seller, so it isn't a reliable anchor — what matters is what comparable homes have actually sold for and how much competition you're facing right now.
How Susie builds an offer
Before every offer, Susie pulls current comparable sales for the specific home, factors in its days on market and the level of competing interest, and gives you a data-backed number to work from — not a guess. She'll also weigh terms beyond price, since contingencies, timelines, and financing strength often decide competitive offers as much as the figure does. For a sense of the high-end sales she's handled, see her landmark sales, or reach out before you write your next offer.
Related FAQ
More, answered.
- Does a higher offer always win?
- No. Terms such as contingencies, close timeline, and financing strength frequently matter as much as price. A well-structured offer can beat a higher one that carries more risk for the seller.
- How do comparable sales guide an offer?
- Recent sales of genuinely comparable homes show what buyers have actually been willing to pay, which is a more reliable guide than the list price. Susie reviews current comparables for each property before advising on an offer.
Have a follow-up?
A short call with Susie beats hours of guessing — she'll give you a straight, current read.