Is there way to ensure your home won't be taken when buying?

[Bryan Tasumi]

I am in the process of buying a single-family home in Texas from California (out of state). Is there a way to ensure that a home you want won't be taken by someone else? What is the best way to ensure that the seller knows you are interested and willing to place higher bids? Should you let your buyer's real estate agent know that you want them to keep track of any bids on the property? Will they take advantage of this and try to make you bid higher to get a larger commission?

Since I am out of state, I want to be able to fly over to Texas and see the property before submitting my offer. How can I do this if someone else makes a bid before me?

Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you.

[Bart H.]

Originally posted by @Bryan Tasumi:

I am in the process of buying a single-family home in Texas from California (out of state). Is there a way to ensure that a home you want won't be taken by someone else? What is the best way to ensure that the seller knows you are interested and willing to place higher bids? Should you let your buyer's real estate agent know that you want them to keep track of any bids on the property? Will they take advantage of this and try to make you bid higher to get a larger commission?

Since I am out of state, I want to be able to fly over to Texas and see the property before submitting my offer. How can I do this if someone else makes a bid before me?

Any insight would be appreciated. Thank you.

 Bryan, I don't know where you are looking but right now at least in Dallas its flat out nuts.  In the last month I have big on 4 or 5 properties, my bid was over asking, most of those all cash and not a single one of those was accepted.  Every one of those properties had multiple bids on the first day (or by the realtors deadline, ie over the weekend), none of those situations had the realtor ask for final and best. We had another property we passed on that had 35 offers.

I only tell you the story because In the DFW area, if its a good deal, there are multiple offers, people are offering before they see the property.  IF you book a flight to come to Texas on a house that is a great deal, imo you will be too late, the market is just that competitive.  Heck many of the houses I see listed the realtor wont show the property until there is a signed contract.

I don't mean to be negative, I think Texas can be profitable, and I wish you well, just trying to give you a heads up on what I personally am seeing in terms of the competitiveness of the DFW market.