Highs & Lows, A Realtor’s Reflection on Market Attitudes
The real estate market is known for its cycles. Those of us in the industry have ridden both the highs and the lows—but what's often overlooked is the shift in attitude that comes with each phase. As professionals, how we respond to these shifts says a lot about our understanding of the market, and our ability to serve with integrity.
The High: Post-COVID Real Estate Boom
Following the COVID-19 shutdown, Florida (and much of the country) saw one of the most aggressive seller markets in modern real estate. Interest rates dropped to historic lows, and demand skyrocketed. Homes barely made it to the weekend without a line of eager buyers submitting offers—many above list price, and often in cash. Multiple offers became the norm. Sellers had the upper hand.
Buyers, desperate to secure a home, were waiving appraisals, inspections, and other key protections. As buyer agents, we saw our clients lose out time and time again, not because they weren’t qualified—but because they couldn’t compete with 20+ offers and investors paying in cash. In that market, agents celebrated the competition, embraced the bidding wars, and did everything possible to leverage the frenzy in their seller’s favor.
And you know what? That made sense.
Listings were gold. Agents were eager to have them, and structured offers to maximize their client’s return. Multiple offers were welcomed. Over-asking offers were praised. That was the market.
The Low: 2025 and the Shift Toward Buyers
Fast forward to 2025, and the tone has changed.
Interest rates have gone up. Homes are sitting longer. Price reductions are common. Incentives like rate buy-downs, closing cost credits, and even assumable mortgages are popping up just to get traction. The shift has been real, and it's now a market leaning slightly in favor of the buyer.
So what’s the problem? Here's where the reflection begins:
The same agents who celebrated multiple offers above asking are now visibly offended when they receive an offer under list price—even if it comes from a fully qualified buyer. It’s as if the new reality of the market is being ignored or taken personally. Some react with snark. Others dismiss the offer outright. The tone? Defensive, even judgmental.
A Call for Consistency and Professionalism
Let’s be honest: This is business. The market has shifted, and just like in the highs, agents need to adjust in the lows. A lower offer isn’t a personal insult—it’s a reflection of market conditions, buyer affordability, and negotiation strategy. The same way we pushed sellers to capitalize on the frenzy post-COVID, we now have a responsibility to guide them through today’s more balanced (and sometimes buyer-favored) landscape.
Instead of reacting emotionally, we should be saying:
"Let’s see what we can learn from this offer."
"Is the home priced in line with current demand?"
"Can we bridge the gap and start a productive conversation?"
Any offer is an opportunity—not just to sell a home, but to educate, strategize, and collaborate.
Final Thoughts
Markets shift. That’s a fact. But our professionalism shouldn’t. Whether you're in the high of a bidding war or the low of a slow listing, your attitude as a realtor should remain rooted in respect, discernment, and market reality.
If we want to be trusted advisors to our clients, we need to model what adaptability and market awareness look like—even when it means accepting an offer that’s less than ideal. Because at the end of the day, it's not personal. It's the market.
Let’s keep it professional—in the highs and the lows.
