A reasonable offer starts with the specific home and your financial limits, not an automatic adjustment to its asking price. My guidance is to settle those boundaries before negotiation begins.
For September 2026, Lakewood's Sold to List Price % was 98.4%. That measure covers single-family homes, condos, townhomes and apartments. The Median Sold Price for the same property categories and month was $565,000. The reported sold-to-list-price measure does not identify the negotiated result for an individual home.
I would not turn the reported sold-to-list-price relationship into a standard discount. A home's condition and comparisons with similar homes deserve attention before you decide whether its asking price is reasonable. Your offer also needs financing and inspection requirements that reflect the risks you are prepared to accept.
Review recent sales of similar homes with me and identify material differences before choosing a reasonable offer range. Write down the maximum price you are comfortable offering and the circumstances that would make you stop negotiating. Confirm financing requirements with your lender and discuss inspection protections before deciding which conditions belong in the offer.
