🏡 Good Morning & Happy Saturday!

There's something about a Saturday morning in October, isn't there? 🍂 A little chill in the air, the beautiful fall colors, and hopefully a chance to slow down and enjoy the weekend.

Whether you're thinking about buying, selling, or just keeping an eye on your home's value, we're glad you're here!

This week's Home Sweet Buzz has some interesting numbers, a little negotiating wisdom from Todd & Tammy, and a money-saving mortgage tip you might want to tuck away for later.

So grab something warm, get comfortable, and let's see what's happening in our Davis County real estate market! ☕🏡

🏡 HOME SWEET BUZZ is proudly presented in partnership with Todd Porter & Tammy Swain | SURE Synergy United Real Estate Group

🏡 The Crowd Is Scared. That’s Your Opening.

Wealth is rarely built by following the crowd. It's built by the person willing to step forward while everyone else steps back.

And right now, in Davis County, the crowd is stepping back.

With conventional loan rates around 7.75%, buyers are nervous. Many have stopped looking altogether.

But look at what that fear has created:

• 1,091 homes for sale — the most we've seen all year.

• Only 334 under contract — the fewest since late January.

• More than three homes available for every one under contract.

When buyers disappear, sellers start talking. And the numbers prove it.

Active listings have already been reduced an average of 2.91% from their original price, compared to just 1.71% in March. Homes closing this week sold for 95.4% of their original asking price, and the median home has been sitting for 51 days, up from 34 in April.

That's what a negotiating market looks like.

📍 And Bountiful? That's Where It Gets Interesting.

Bountiful has 120 homes for sale, with the deepest average price reduction in the county at 4.31% — roughly $31,700 off the typical listing.

At today's rates, that kind of reduction can save a buyer around $182 a month, depending on the loan.

And here's what I want you to understand: That's before you've even made an offer.

You may still have room to negotiate closing costs, repairs, and even a seller-paid rate buydown.

Now, I'm not going to pretend a 7.75% interest rate feels good. It doesn't.

But waiting for rates to drop comes with its own risk. When buyers come rushing back, so does the competition. And suddenly you're dealing with multiple offers, fewer concessions, and sellers who don't have to negotiate nearly as hard.

The opportunity isn't necessarily in getting the lowest interest rate. It's in getting the best overall deal.

Tammy and I have spent our careers negotiating on both sides of the table. Here's what we'd tell you to do right now:

1. Get your financing figured out. Talk with a lender. Compare conventional, FHA, VA, and rate buydown options. Know your actual monthly payment.

2. Find the homes where sellers are ready to talk. We use our EPIC Home Value System to identify properties that have been sitting, reduced, or priced above what the market supports.

3. Negotiate everything that makes sense. Price, closing costs, repairs, and seller-paid buydowns. The right combination can make a bigger difference than just chasing a lower asking price.

Here's the part nobody likes to hear:

The people who build wealth in real estate rarely buy when it feels easy. They buy when they're prepared and everyone else is scared.

That doesn't mean you should rush into something you can't afford. It means if you're financially ready, don't automatically assume waiting is your best move.

If you're thinking about buying, Tammy and I would love to help you figure out what the numbers could look like.

📱 Text us at 801-755-1882 for a no-pressure buyer game plan.

Life, Liberty, and Property starts with owning the ground under your feet.

If for any reason, property tax concerns, estate planning, wealth evaluation, you are wondering what the present value of your home; scan this QR code or go to https://sureut.com/epicreport and we will promptly provide you with our detailed professionally engineered EPIC Report:

💬 Amber from Bountiful asks:

"Last week you said homes are selling for about 95.5% of their original asking price. If I'm ready to buy, how hard can I actually push? Can I ask for a rate buydown too?"

👉 Todd and Tammy answer:

Amber, yes. And if I were in your shoes, I'd absolutely be asking.

But here's where you need to be smart.

Homes this week sold for 95.4% of their original asking price, but 98.4% of their final list price.

See the difference?

Most of the negotiating happened before the buyer ever showed up. Sellers had already started cutting prices because their homes weren't selling.

That's where I'd start looking.

Find the homes that have been sitting. Find the ones that have already dropped their price. Those sellers have already told you something important: They're ready to have a conversation.

And don't stop at the purchase price.

With conventional rates around 7.75%, a seller-paid rate buydown could potentially save you more on your monthly payment than another small price reduction.

Can you ask for both? Absolutely. Whether you'll get both depends on the property, the seller, and how you structure the offer.

One word of caution, though.

There's a difference between negotiating hard and just throwing out a lowball offer.

A seller doesn't have to accept an offer just because the market has slowed down. But when we walk in with solid financing, real market data, and a well-structured offer, we've got something worth talking about.

That's what Tammy and I do. We negotiate for a living, and we know how to make the numbers work without turning the whole thing into a guessing game.

My advice? Don't be afraid to ask. Just make sure you've got the numbers to back it up.

📱 Have a real estate question? Text Todd & Tammy at 801-755-1882.

Got a Real Estate question?
👉 Submit a question for next week’s edition 
Call us at 801-755-1882, and let’s build your
custom plan to win in this market.

💰 Mortgage Money Tip:
Ask for the Credit, Not Just the Price Cut!

Here's something many buyers don't realize: You don't always have to pay for a lower mortgage rate entirely out of your own pocket.

In a market where sellers are eager to make a deal, you may be able to negotiate a seller credit toward your closing costs—including discount points that permanently reduce your mortgage interest rate.

Or you might explore a temporary rate buydown that lowers your payments during the first year or two.

Here's the trick: Before you negotiate another $10,000 off the asking price, have your lender show you what a $10,000 seller credit could do instead.

Sometimes the monthly savings or reduced cash needed at closing could make one option more attractive than the other.

Just remember, temporary buydowns eventually expire, and seller contributions have limits depending on your loan.

The takeaway? Don't just negotiate the price of the house. Negotiate the financing too.

👉 Ask your lender to compare both options before making your next offer.

📚 Want to learn more? CFPB Homebuying Resources | Fannie Mae Seller Credit Guidelines

🏡 This Week’s listings & Open Houses
in Davis County

🏘️Your Weekend Open-House Report

Scan or click the QR Code below for a complete list of
open houses happening around Davis County.
👇👇👇👇 

The Masses Are Scared. Prepared Buyers
Are Getting Bold.

⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️

📱Call/Text: 801-755-1882
📧 Email: [email protected]