Room to negotiate must be assessed for the home you want, not assumed from a townwide statistic. I would help you balance a supported price with protections you need.
The latest market report's Irvine figures include single-family homes, condos, townhouses and apartments. Homes sold for an average of 97.5% of their asking prices. The typical sale price was $1,447,500, offering price context without prescribing what you should offer. Housing supply, measured in months, was 4.29, rather than a measure of an individual seller's willingness to negotiate.
The average percentage of asking price that homes sold for cannot set your personal offer limit. I would consider similar completed sales and the home's condition before deciding whether its asking price supports your offer. Price is only part of the decision, because financing and inspection requirements address risks that deserve separate attention.
Compare the home with recent sales of similar properties and review meaningful differences with me before selecting a reasonable offer range. Confirm your financing position with your lender and decide the maximum price you are comfortable offering before negotiations begin. Review which financing and inspection protections you need before changing the offer conditions, rather than giving them up automatically.
