It is a tough and competitive market these days and a lot of buyers are dealing with the same thing. I know some clients that have been at it a year now and they also have a very hard working agent. With most of your real deals in the bank owned or short sale arena every buyer who has wisely sat on the fence for the past few years is out there wanting to get in cheap, and that is not to mention the investors eating things up and knocking a lot of families out of the way.

Diligence and preparedness, along with being on top of the ball all the way is what will eventually land you a great house! You will get into a home, but these days it takes a heck of a lot of work!!

Hi Nico:
Don't feel alone , There are plenty of competitors out there in your price range . May I suggest you look
at homes a little lower in you price range and offer over the asking price.This methos has been sucessful
for my Clients! Good Luck!

Dear Nico: Is there any way you can look at homes after work? Remember, it is still light if you get done with work early enough. That may help you by getting your offer submitted on new listings early.

Dear Homebuyer,
My Buyers and I are experiencing the same thing in our area. The very well-priced properties in good condition are a somewhat rare commodity and therefore attract the buyers. Since my buyers cannot come up in price, we just have to remain patient and diligent, make several offers and soon it will be our turn to have the accepted offer. I just closed 2 deals where we came in as strong as we could and QUICKLY and our offer was accepted, beating out the others. I am sure that with some patience and the skill of your hard-working agent, you will soon be in escrow!

Since you have been working with the agent for a while he/she should pretty much know what you are looking for. With this in mind, really focus in on the community or complex that you want to live in. Your agent should be able to set up an MLS search that will send you an email of when a new listing comes on-line or when there is a price change. Ask your agent to run comparative pricing or "comps" for what has been selling in this complex or neighborhood. In structuring your offer you should offer market value for the home. Market value is the average price, or close to it, based on what equivalent homes / units have sold for. Additionally, the simpler the deal is the greater chance you will have. For example: if your offer is for market value and no concessions (money back for carpet that is bad, required painting, closing cost credits) you will have a better chance of being accepted because the deal is simpler. Definitely have you financing in place before you make the offer and if you can offer a larger deposit and down payment it shows the seller that you are serious about buying the property thus increasing your chances.

It sounds like a very frustrating experience for you, and also that your agent is doing her job. I would ask her for her feedback on your situation, and realistically, if the market in your price range is that hot in Citrus Heights, be prepared to look at property in the late afternoons or evenings so that you can get in early and perhaps get a jump on things. I sell property to out of town buyers where I am based in Sonoma County and I will often tell them to get right up here, or change their plans to come see me sooner if the right property for them shows up.

If you have little to no down payment, or your pre-approval letter doesn't look strong, ask what you can do to make your offer stronger. What is the seller looking for that doesn't cost you much to give but will make your offer stand out? I always write a cover letter to accompany my offers, and sometimes I ask my clients to do so as well. And if your offers are well below what the other parties are offering, then that should tell you something as well. Best wishes to you.