Make an Offer on a House: How to Stand Out?

U.S. housing inventory is still 37.9% below levels before 2017–2019, which makes offers more competitive.
In Q1 2025, Las Vegas homes with several offers sold for 2.8% more than the asking price, on average.
If you put down more than 3% for earnest money, sellers may like your offer more.
Full mortgage pre-approval is much better than pre-qualification when there are many offers.
If you can be flexible with closing or rent the house back to the seller, you might win even if your offer isn’t the highest.

Spring is here, and real estate is very competitive. Housing is still low compared to how many people want to buy, especially in places like Las Vegas. So, it’s important to have an advantage. If you want to offer on a house this spring, when bidding wars are common, it’s not just about the price. It’s also about how you present yourself, how ready you are, and how persistent you are. This guide breaks down home buying tips that you can use to be a top choice. We’ll show you how to make a strong home offer that gets noticed and helps you buy the house you want.

Why Spring Is a Very Competitive Time to Offer on a House

Real estate gets busier in springtime all over the country. Buyers, especially families, often want to move before summer to fit school schedules. This creates urgency at a certain time of year. Sellers list their houses hoping to get the best offers. This mix of high demand and sellers listing homes can cause bidding wars. It also pushes buyers to act fast and make smart choices.

One major thing making competition worse is that there aren’t enough homes for sale compared to the number of buyers. Realtor.com says that listings nationwide are still 37.9% lower than average from 2017–2019 (Realtor.com, 2025). That’s not good news, especially for first-time buyers trying to buy a home this year. When houses are listed, they often get many offers within days or even hours.

In this situation, your offer can’t just be “good.” It needs to be great. You must figure out what sellers care about most and avoid mistakes. These are basic things you must do if you want your offer accepted.

Market Insight: What’s Happening in Las Vegas Right Now?

Las Vegas is not just for vacations or gambling anymore. It’s one of the most popular places to move to in the U.S. People keep moving there from expensive cities like Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle. Many people are attracted to lower taxes, more chances to work remotely, and cheaper living.

But this popularity has made prices go up and the number of homes for sale go down. Certain areas around Las Vegas are popular, such as:

Summerlin: This is a suburban area good for families, with schools, parks, and stores nearby.
Henderson: It has good schools and planned communities that attract working people and retirees.
Mountains Edge: This fast-growing area is popular with first-time buyers. Homes here often sell quickly after being listed.

Basically, homes that are priced well and in good areas are causing bidding wars very quickly, especially for homes under $600,000. In this kind of market, how you structure your offer is your best tool. That’s where someone with local knowledge like Steve Hawks is very helpful.

Tip #1: Work with a Local Expert Like Steve Hawks

Trying to deal with this much competition without local help is like trying to play a game without knowing the rules. Steve Hawks has worked in this area for over 20 years and has helped with more than 4,000 successful home sales.

Having someone like Steve on your side gives you some benefits:

Market Information: He knows about houses that aren’t well-known, which homes will probably get many offers, and when prices might drop.
What Sellers Want Locally: Steve knows what sellers in Las Vegas care about most, like closing quickly, fewer contingencies, or even renting the house back to them for a bit.
Good Connections: An experienced agent knows good lenders and escrow companies. This can make your deal smoother and faster.

Choosing the right agent might be the most helpful tip you get for buying a home when there’s a lot of competition.

Tip #2: Make a Strong First Offer

Let’s be honest, now is not the time to test the waters.

Many buyers think it’s smart to start with a low offer, lower than they expect, “just to see what happens.” But in a spring market that’s doing well, your offer might not even be considered. Sellers have many showings and offers to look at, and they only pay attention to the best ones.

Here’s how to make your offer stand out right away:

Offer at or above the asking price: Especially if your agent says the home is priced fairly.
Keep contingencies to a minimum: The fewer conditions you put on the sale, the more sellers will like you because they want certainty.
Make timelines short: A faster closing or inspection shows you are serious and speeds things up.
Show you have pre-approval and strong financing: Tell sellers immediately that your deal is solid.

And consider this: Homes with several offers in Q1 2025 sold for 2.8% more than the asking price, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR). This isn’t just something someone said, it’s based on data. It should make you want to make your best offer right away.

Tip #3: Show You’re Serious with a Solid Earnest Money Deposit

Your earnest money deposit (EMD) is important. It’s more than just money, it sends a message.

Usually, 1-2% of the purchase price is normal across the country. But in very competitive markets like Las Vegas, it can be what makes your offer win or lose. Sellers see your EMD as proof that you’re serious and won’t back out.

Think about these things when you decide on your EMD:

3% or more: This shows you are very serious and financially ready.
Non-refundable after inspection (with legal protection): Some buyers offer to make part of their deposit non-refundable to show how strong their offer is.
Deposit the money quickly: Getting the money in escrow fast shows you are serious.

The point is to make your offer better without risking too much money. This is where experienced agents like Steve Hawks can give you advice on when a high EMD is a good idea.

Tip #4: Get Fully Pre-Approved, Not Just Pre-Qualified

Many buyers make a mistake here. They think pre-qualification and pre-approval are the same. In a housing market with lots of offers, they are definitely not the same.

Pre-Qualification means your income and assets “look” good enough based on what you say.
Pre-Approval means a loan officer has checked everything, including pay stubs, W-2s, and credit. It’s like a lender saying, “This buyer is ready to buy.”

Why this is important:

Sellers (and their agents) really prefer buyers who are already approved for a loan.
Pre-approvals can make closing faster, which sellers like a lot.
Working with local lenders that your agent suggests can also create trust and make listing agents feel more comfortable.

For example, Steve Hawks has worked with good lenders for a long time. These lenders can help deals close quickly.

Go Deeper: Offer Flexible Terms That Benefit the Seller

Sometimes, the best home buying tips are not about money. Being flexible, especially with dates, can be very helpful.

Think about offering:

Longer closing times: Sellers who haven’t found their next home might need more time.
Rent-back (lease-back) options: You let the current owners stay in the house for a while after closing. This can make their move less stressful.
Ask for less from the seller: Asking for fewer repairs or credits makes closing simpler and sellers like this when they are already dealing with a lot.

Being flexible like this can make the seller feel better emotionally. It might even be more important than a slightly higher offer from someone else.

Consider an Escalation Clause (When Appropriate)

If there are many bids, an escalation clause can be a smart move. Basically, your offer starts at a certain price, but it will automatically go up by a set amount if other offers come in that are higher, but only up to a limit you set.

Good things:

Keeps you in the running when price is the main issue, without having to keep making new offers.
Shows you are serious but also keeps you within your budget.

Bad things:

Could show the seller your highest price, which could hurt negotiations.
Some sellers don’t like them because they seem complicated or risky. They might prefer offers that are simple and clear.

Escalation clauses are best when you are ready and sure about your financing. Again, Steve Hawks can tell you if this is a good idea in your situation.

Personalize Your Offer with a Letter (Optional and Situational)

Now that things are often done online and not personal, a letter from you can stand out. This is especially true if the seller is emotionally attached to the house.

Your letter could say:

A little about yourself.
What you like about the house.
How you plan to take care of the house.

But be careful:

Don’t put in personal details that could cause problems with fair housing laws.
Make sure the letter is polite, honest, and matches your offer. It should help your offer, not confuse things.

In areas or neighborhoods with a lot of local history or long-time owners, this small thing might make the difference.

Take Advantage of Las Vegas-Specific Market Factors

Every real estate market has its own things that are different. Las Vegas is no exception.

The time of year affects buying patterns. Late winter and early spring can be good times to buy before competition gets too high. Summer can be very competitive because of people moving for jobs or school.

Local things also matter:

Investors might buy starter homes or homes in areas where short-term rentals are allowed.
Local buyers often want to be near good schools or certain things in the area.
People buying second homes come during big events or certain seasons.

Steve Hawks stays up-to-date on these things and helps clients. He can help you make an offer on a house that is not only strong but also fits what sellers in this area really want.

How Steve Hawks Can Give You an Unfair Advantage

Steve Hawks doesn’t just know the market, he helps you make the best plan in it.

From knowing about listings early to helping buyers, from setting up your bid to negotiating well, Steve’s full service approach means you:

Bid in a smarter way, not just with more money.
Get to see listings sooner, before everyone else.
Deal with appraisals, inspections, and loans more easily.
Close faster and with fewer problems.

His way of putting helpful home buying tips together into one easy approach can really improve your chances of winning against other buyers.

Final Thoughts: Prepare, Partner, and Perform

To win this spring when buying a home, it’s not about luck. It’s about getting ready, having good help, and making smart moves. A strong home offer isn’t just guessing. It’s a planned effort based on you being seen as a good buyer, knowing the market, and understanding what sellers need.

Remember:

Hire an agent who knows how to win where you are buying.
Make a serious financial offer from the start.
Change your offer terms to make things easier and more appealing.
Use facts to make decisions and avoid making emotional choices.

Offer on a house the right way, and you could buy your dream home in Las Vegas soon. Ready to start? Contact Steve Hawks now to talk about buying a home.

Citations

Realtor.com. (2025). U.S. housing market forecast – March 2025 update. https://www.realtor.com/research/data/
National Association of Realtors. (2025). Q1 real estate activity report. https://www.nar.realtor/research-and-statistics