How To Find the Best Deal Possible on a Home Right Now

How To Find the Best Deal Possible on a Home Right Now | Christophe Choo at Coldwell Banker Global Luxury is Your Local Real Estate Expert

When it comes to securing the best deal in today’s housing market, the smartest buyers aren’t chasing every new listing—they’re paying attention to the quiet opportunities others overlook. And in high-demand markets like Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, this strategy becomes even more powerful.

Here’s the real secret:
Focus on homes that have been sitting on the market longer than average.

Why? Because time on market creates leverage. Sellers become more realistic, more open to negotiation, and more willing to consider offers they may have ignored earlier. In a luxury-driven city like LA—where pricing, lifestyle, and timing all intersect—this can lead to meaningful savings.

The Opportunity: 1 in 5 Homes Has Seen a Price Cut This Year

Realtor.com reports that 1 in 5 listings nationwide (20.2%) has undergone at least one price reduction. What’s remarkable is that this trend holds true even in affluent enclaves like Beverly Hills Flats, Bel-Air, Holmby Hills, and the Sunset Strip.

In Los Angeles, where aspirational pricing happens often—especially in luxury and ultra-luxury segments—price corrections create substantial buyer opportunity.

Translation:
Whether you’re shopping in Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Westwood, or Los Feliz, there are strategic buys hiding in plain sight.

The Tactic: Target Listings with Longer Days on Market (DOM)

This is where a seasoned agent becomes invaluable.
With 36+ years navigating Beverly Hills and the broader LA luxury market, I can pinpoint precisely which homes have been sitting the longest—and why.

Homes with extended DOM often reflect:

• Sellers who overshot on price initially

• Properties with fixable cosmetic issues

• Homes that launched at the wrong moment

• Listings that were poorly marketed or staged

• High-value homes where the buyer pool is smaller

And here’s the advantage:
These sellers are far more willing to negotiate.

In Los Angeles, this might look like:

• A Beverly Hills Flats home reduced from $15.5M to $13.9M

• A Bel-Air new construction that sat 120 days and now includes concessions

• A Sunset Strip architectural offering significant credits after languishing

• A Brentwood estate offering seller-paid closing costs to attract activity

When fewer buyers engage with these listings, you may become the only active offer—which dramatically strengthens your position.

Why This Works Especially Well in Los Angeles

LA’s luxury market is highly seasonal.
During quieter periods—late fall, winter, and even early spring—international buyers may still be circling, but local activity slows. That slowdown often creates one of the strongest negotiation windows of the year.

Bankrate confirms this dynamic:
During slower months, sellers are more “willing to lower prices or offer concessions.”

Buyers in Beverly Hills and surrounding neighborhoods often secure:

• Closing cost credits

• Repair concessions

• Price reductions

• Seller-paid rate buydowns

• Inclusion of furniture, fixtures, or luxury amenities

In a market known for multimillion-dollar transactions, these concessions can translate into tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars saved.

And the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows a clear pattern:
The longer a home sits on the market, the lower the final sale price trends relative to the original list price.

Even a Small Percentage Discount Goes a Long Way in LA

A 6% discount may not sound dramatic until you apply it to real Los Angeles price points:

• On a $2M home: ~$120,000 savings

• On a $5M home: ~$300,000 savings

• On a $10M estate: ~$600,000 savings

In Beverly Hills and Bel-Air, where many properties trade above $10M, these numbers become even more impactful.

Zillow summarizes the strategy perfectly:
Look for sitting inventory—the homes with lowered expectations and motivated sellers.

Bottom Line: The Best Deals Are Hiding in the Quiet Corners of the Market

If you want the best possible deal right now, your focus should be on:

• Homes with longer DOM

• Properties with recent price reductions

• Listings entering slower seasons

• Sellers signaling flexibility

• Homes that launched too high and are now adjusting

With 1 in 5 sellers cutting prices and many growing more negotiable each week, this is one of the strongest moments for strategic buyers in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills.

If you're serious about finding value—whether that’s a $2M starter home in Westwood or a $20M estate in Beverly Hills—let’s explore the overlooked opportunities that others are missing.

Ready to identify the best deals in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills?
Let’s talk—I’ll show you where the real opportunities are right now.

Call Christophe Choo at (310) 777-6342 to tour your future home "HERE" or click "HERE" to estimate your home value