The MLS just dropped its November listings data last week and I’m seeing a continuation of interesting trends in Venice. Trendline says → market is shifting more in favor of sellers after a very long run for buyers.
New listings in Venice have been on a downward trend. Fewer listings in Venice is contributing to an equilibrium in negotiating power between buyers and sellers.
Inventory in Venice has now dropped below four months. 4-6 months is neutral territory. If this trend continues, Venice is shifting into sellers’ favor for the first time in almost 18 months.
This graph gives the impression that prices are down, but when the data is graphed on a 12-month rolling average, prices have been on a steady trek upward since April. This upward price trajectory is in line with broader Silicon Beach trends.
Properties are moving into escrow in just over 20 days in Venice. This means you might get a second look at a Venice property before you make your offer, but you still need to stay proactive as a buyer in Venice.
Sellers are finding their footing again in Venice. It’s been a long haul for them in Venice.
Venice is moving at a faster pace. A shift is definitely afoot in Venice.
Venice CA 90291
Home Sellers
What does this trendline mean for Venice home sellers? It means pricing needs to be watched very carefully. You won’t want to hit the market too high or you will be overlooked with so many choices available to buyers. You should also consider a pre-listing inspection to get ready for inevitable repair requests. You’ll need top-tier photography, drone footage and a super aggressive social media strategy to set yourself apart from the competition.
Make sure your listing agent is completely comfortable with digital and social media marketing to get your listing and its story in front of as many potential buyers as possible. More buyers falling in love with your property means more buyers vying for ownership at the offer table. 
And with so many other choices in Venice right now, it’s a tall order to bring multiple buyers to the table to fight for your property.
Don’t fall into the trap of picking a listing agent who has “been around a long time.” I went to a listing appointment last year and was told the sellers liked me and my approach, but wanted to go with the agent who’d been around longer and promised to list higher than I was recommending.
Guess whose charming home on a large corner lot was on the market for 236 days and subject to two price reductions? Let’s just say I never see that agent on social media. Planting a sign in the front yard, putting the listing on the MLS and hoping real hard to find buyers is not working in Venice. If you have a property to sell in Venice right now, you deserve better. You deserve an edge.
Venice CA 90291
Home Buyers
If you’re a Venice home buyer, you’re in luck! You have choices, which is not the case in all Silicon Beach communities right now.
Pro tip #1 for Venice home buyers: don’t use the listing agent to submit your offer. The listing agent’s first allegiance will be to his or her seller and the odds are against you getting your best deal. You want your own advocate who understands the current state of play in Venice and can push the right buttons to get you your best deal.
Pro tip #2 for Venice home buyers: you need to have your lender pre-approval in hand to have your offer taken seriously. Properties are moving relatively quickly in Venice so solid, well-written and documented offers will be recognized by listing agents and sellers as coming from a buyer and agent who can get escrow closed without a ton of drama. Reasonable repair requests should be entertained by Venice home sellers.
Want to talk about a Venice home buying or Venice home selling strategy? Grab a convenient time for you on our calendar and let’s strategize!
The data shown is also for single-family homes. If you want condo or combined data for Venice CA 90291, or custom graphs for other areas, just ask!
This post is from our “Seller Edge” series, content designed to give real estate sellers in Silicon Beach an edge in getting the price they want on the terms they want. Read more about our full Seller Edge program on our website. Want help selling real estate in Silicon Beach? Contact us, grab time on our calendar or read more Seller Edge articles. Want to know how much your property would likely fetch on the market right now? Get a quick answer here.
This post is also from our “Buyer Edge” series, content designed to give real estate buyers in Silicon Beach an edge in a competitive residential real estate market. Read more about our full Buyer Edge program on our website. Want help buying real estate in Silicon Beach? Contact us, grab time on our calendar or read more Buyer Edge articles. Need help beyond Silicon Beach? Reach out and let us help you find a high-caliber agent with hyperlocal expertise in that area.
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