A mentor once told me, “Knowledge is power.” I was reminded of that recently while helping buyers navigate a condominium purchase. They had narrowed their search to one building and were preparing to make an offer when a new listing hit the market. It quickly became their favorite—beautifully presented, newly listed, and seemingly unlikely to leave much room for negotiation.
Fortunately, we knew more than what appeared on the listing page. We had already toured competing units in the building, identified which sellers were motivated, compared differences in parking and storage, and learned that another unit would soon be coming to market at a lower price point.
None of that information came from Zillow or ChatGPT. It came from walking properties, talking to agents, studying inventory, and understanding the nuances of the building itself. That broader perspective gave us leverage that wouldn’t have existed if we had only focused on the unit in front of us.
By understanding the full landscape (not just a single listing) we were able to make a compelling case for value and negotiate a price that worked for my buyers. They secured their favorite unit within a week.
Real estate is about understanding the market around it. The more you know, the stronger your position becomes.