It can be frustrating and stressful to deal with a bidding war once you've fallen in love with a particular property and would be devastated to lose it to another buyer. However, bidding wars are not uncommon at times when there is low inventory out on the real estate market.

If you find yourself in a bidding war, you need to come up with ways to make your offer the most attractive to the seller. Winning a bidding war is not always about offering the most money. Below are a few tips on ways you can come out victorious with the home of your dreams after a cut-throat bidding war with other would-be buyers:

  • Be ready to buy right away- When a seller is eager to get to closing, they might be inclined to sell to whoever can get the process wrapped up the quickest. It's best if you are already pre-approved for a mortgage loan before you start viewing homes.
  • If you really like the property, let your offer show it- Avoid making lowball offers on a home that you really like. Don't waste your time making unrealistic offers on homes that are out of your price range.
  • Be flexible- Remember that you can use more than money to entice a buyer into accepting your offer. If you're flexible regarding factors such as the seller's move-out date or home inspections, a seller might be more tempted to accept your offer than other offers that are a bit higher.
  • Anticipate the counteroffers- You can anticipate the counteroffers of other buyers by considering how you can surpass them with an offer that is more appealing to the seller. Think about how much you can afford to offer, what kind of monthly payment you can afford to make, and what the home is really worth to you. The more prepared you are to respond to counteroffers the more likely you will be to succeed in winning a bidding war.