Short Sales, Foreclosures and even straight home sales in Hernando County Florida are far below the Florida coastal market of real estate prices. So offering 15%+ below the listing price if it's a desirable home will get you only chuckles in our declining priced, and as of late a high volume real estate market. Take Spring Hill for my example, in April, May and June of 2009, buyers are starting to show offers 10% above the asking price on short sales and foreclosures.

Your contract bid should be predicated upon on 1) how much you feel the house and grounds are worth, 2) how much you can afford down and monthly, and 3) what is the basis of your demand.

If you place a lowball offer and 5 other buyers offer contracts above your bid, you are not getting an approval. The relative importance of that is something only you can answer. In other words, is the chance of saving five thousand dollars worth the risk of missing out on the deal?

In my opinion and in those of other experienced agents in the volume areas of Spring Hill and Brooksville Florida, low dough offers are made on relatively tired properties in turn down markets, or for homes in distress that can be fixed and the sold for a good profit.

If you want to get seriously aggressive, you are better off to lowball on several homes and when a few connect, congratulate yourself. It's a bad idea when you're focused on one purchase that you'd actually like to make your personal homestead.