They are being micro-managed to death until they are just mindless clerks.So they will ask for an appraisal based on recent-like-sale-property comps.If the comps show that the offer is within some close range of the appraised value - they will approve the deal.If the offer is too far out of the money they might counter-offer - but more likely in my experience; just say: nope; offer rejected.But the real problem to me with short sales is that ANY change in the deal, no matter how slight, always sets the deal back to square one.

If he is not counter offering with a price he is more comfortable with, I'd say he is losing out.

Expect a counteroffer....If you were seller, would this interest or offend you?

Sometimes it hard to differentiate between the BS and legitimate counter offers, etc.

Our property criteria and some additional information are below.Criteria:  Location: Parts of Sacramento, CA and Yuba City, CA3+ bedroom single family homesABSENTEE owned40 - 100 % equityBuilt between 1950 and 2013Last market sale date between September 2008 and December 2013Additional Information:Property info came from ListsourcePostcards sent by Yellowletters.com6 month campaign planned, with 6 pieces of mail sent to each owner over 6 monthsTotal Postcards Sent in First Round = 1025Calls from Owners: 8Offers Made: 4Accepted Offers & Counter Offers: 0Our plan with this list of people is to identify owners that purchased when the market was low and have gained a lot of equity as the market has gone up over the last few years. 

No counter-offer was submitted.I thought about waiting a couple days to reply (so as not to seem eager), I'm a little annoyed they didn't even counter. 

Hate to be a killjoy but,I doubt a bank would give you a 15,000 discount on their property and let you shop it for 30 days.Also there may not be enough cash profit after 60 grand in repairs unless your are accidentally over estimating the rehab needed.It's just my opinion don't take it for the Gospel.Give it a chance but, expect the counter offer from the bank to be near 40 grand.Hope I am wrong,good luck to you.

I had to send an email offer directly to the listing agent and will only be contacted if the bank accepts it, no counteroffers and sale of property is as is, I also couldn't see the interior.

I don't want to waste my time, or realtor/banks time, but need to be FAIR - to get considered.Once I do my analysis, I want to have a bidding range - HIGH/LOW (including at least ONE counter-offer), then start my efforts to secure funding - based on my parameters.....with BEST/WORST case for $$$$ amount.

The seller responded with a counter-offer and we finally came to an agreement on the sale price.