"Motivated Seller" – Your Chance For A Good Deal

Posted on 09/16/08 3:51 PM

Ever noticed the words “Motivated Seller” in a listing description? Not to be confused with our Desperate Sellers, “Motivated Seller” is the seller’s way of saying: “bring me an offer, I need out”. This kind of language isn’t used casually. If a listing agent (i.e. the agent representing the seller) wants to use the words “Motivated Seller” in any advertising,  he or she needs special permission from the seller. So, for the most part, it is safe to assume that the seller will show some flexibility in dealing with your offer.

Not always are the magic words “Motivated Seller” visible to the general public. So if you’re out there hunting for a home without a realtor, you may pass up on something based on the PUBLIC description…not knowing that it also reads like this (see PRIVATE description) – click on image to enlarge.

Private vs. Public Listing Information Of A Motivated Seller

Motivated Sellers By Price Category

How many “Motivated Sellers” are out there and what do some of the opportunities look like? In total there are about 230 “Motivated Sellers” in Portland’s north, northeast, west and southeast neighborhoods at this point in time. The majority of “Motivated Sellers” are in the sub $325k category, with more than 80 “Motivated Sellers” in the sub $250k category alone, creating good opportunities for first-time home-buyers. Opportunities are somewhat sparse as you approach $400k, this being the most competitive price range in Portland’s close-in neighborhoods.

Motivated Sellers by Area/Zip Code

Currently about 5% of all listings for a given area are “Motivated Sellers”. Motivated sellers are more prevalent in some parts of NE Portland, the Pearl District with only 4 “Motivated Sellers” represents the opposite end of the spectrum.

Interested in regular updates & details on the whereabouts of “Motivated Sellers”? Sign up for the Motivated Seller Report. The report lists “Motivated Sellers” for N, NE, SE and W Portland.