Buying House from Housing Authority of WA

rvsure on 22/01/2018 - 10:35
Last edited 22/01/2018 - 10:37

Hello OzBargainers,

We are looking to buy our first home here in Perth. We are now at the point of negotiating price for a property we like and wondering if you can help with the negotiation. The property is a new built home owned by Housing Authority of Western Australia. The proposed sale price itself is a little below the average for the same size of properties in that suburb. However as a buyer I want to get the best deal possible.

The seller's agent told us that she can't put an offer anything below $10,000 of the advertised price for houses sold by Housing Authority. I tried to find if that's actually true or just a sales tactic but there is no information available on Internet. So I am seeking help from the professionals. If anyone has previous experience of buying or negotiating price for a house owned by Housing Authority please share your suggestions.

Poll Options

  • 7
    Yes you can negotiate price
  • 1
    No the prices are generally below the market average
  • 1
    Don't buy a house from Housing Authority (specify reason in comments)
Home & Garden

Comments

  • bonezAU on 22/01/2018 - 10:45

    You can give them a call and ask if that's true or if the agent is pulling your leg, they are usually quite helpful.

    http://www.openingdoorswa.com.au/contact

    • rvsure on 22/01/2018 - 10:53

      Thanks for the suggestion. I will give them a call.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/01/2018 - 10:46

    You are buying an ex council house? That doesn't seem like a wise idea.

    • rvsure on 22/01/2018 - 10:52

      It's a new house, not ex-council.

    • JimB on 22/01/2018 - 11:02
      +2

      What's wrong with an ex-council house?

      • [Deactivated] on 22/01/2018 - 22:34

        The house, the neighbours, the neighbourhood, the list is endless.

        • JimB on 23/01/2018 - 09:26

          Valid points, usually the house is in fair condition as the previous tenants don't have to pay for repairs.

          Some ex-council house areas are in very good areas close to the city. Slowly they are sold off, bulldozed and new houses built.

        • [Deactivated] on 23/01/2018 - 09:48

          @JB1: And surrounded by people who live in council houses.

        • JimB on 23/01/2018 - 10:12

          @Burnertoasty:

          Or people or have purchased the council houses.

          I'd be hesitant to live in an area full of council housing too, but not all council houses are in streets full of council houses.

  • djkelly69 on 22/01/2018 - 11:22

    Sounds like it could be an internal policy (in which case it is highly doubtful they would disclose this to a potential buyer if you called them), but also sounds like it could be BS.

    Just put your offer in writing (ie. email) to the agent and see what happens.

  • Euphemistic on 22/01/2018 - 11:39

    You can offer anything you like. Doesn't mean your offer will be accepted though.

    • rvsure on 22/01/2018 - 11:44

      I understand that but I just want to know if whatever the agent is telling is true so that I can avoid wastage of time with offers and counter offers.

      • Euphemistic on 22/01/2018 - 12:57

        The agent might also have been instructed to not sell less than $10k below. Given it is a Govt sale, they might just be willing to take a chance and ignore anything low and wait for an offer closer to asking.

        • JimB on 23/01/2018 - 09:27

          Furthermore, the Govt may price it fairly based on their own valuation. It's unlikely they will try to sell it for 10% above market value like private vendors.

  • marketingpolice on 22/01/2018 - 12:09

    Just becareful though as Agent is not obliged to tell you if they have received other offers. So you may lose a house you really like for a few dollars. I have lost a house before over $500 and looking back what is that over next 10 years. I then had to spend more time and more money looking for another place. :(

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