Bidding Wars and Why Investors Get Fooled By “Affordable” Markets
Summary
This article warns against bidding wars in real estate, highlighting that buyers often overpay and experience lower returns. It identifies markets prone to bidding wars and offers strategies for navigating them, emphasizing the importance of setting a maximum allowable offer (MAO) and knowing when to walk away.
Key Insights
- •The top 15 metros are expected to see price increases between August 2025 and August 2026, which will likely lead to bidding wars. Specific cities are listed that are expected to increase in value.
- •Homebuyers who win bidding wars overpay by an average of 8.2% and experience weaker returns over time.
- •Winners of bidding wars had annual returns 1.3% lower than comparable investors who stayed out of the fray.
- •Buyers who paid above asking price had higher default rates—1.9% above average.
Action Items
- ✓If considering a bidding war, consider waiving inspections and contingencies, giving your offer an expiration date, and remaining flexible on the closing date.Effort: lowImpact: medium
- ✓Stick to your MAO (Maximum Allowable Offer) formula when evaluating a property.Effort: lowImpact: medium
- ✓Be prepared to walk away from a bidding war if the property can't pay for itself (factoring in all expenses).Effort: lowImpact: medium
Watch Out For
- ⚠Overpaying for a property in a bidding war can lead to lower returns, higher default rates and financial strain.
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