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The strategies that sold homes in 2022 don't work now. We break down the four factors that decide whether your home sells, and what to fix.

We've been getting a lot of questions lately about why homes aren't selling in today's market. The truth is, a lot has changed since 2022, and the strategies that worked back then no longer work. If an agent or a seller is still leaning on that old playbook, it won't get the result they want. 

We have seen a pickup over the last six months, which is a great sign, but when a home isn't selling, it almost always comes back to four things we look at on every listing: price, condition, marketing, and communication.

Price is the first thing we look at. If you've been getting plenty of showings, buyers are coming through the door, and nobody is making an offer, the price is usually the place to start. Plenty of interest with no offers is the market telling you something, and it's worth listening to before more time goes by.

Condition can be what's holding it back. Sometimes the issue isn't the number, it's the way the home shows. Does it need staging? Are there small things that could be addressed to help a buyer picture themselves there and start making offers? Little adjustments to the condition often make the difference between a buyer walking through and a buyer writing an offer.

"When a home isn't selling, it almost always comes back to four things: price, condition, marketing, and communication."

Marketing decides whether buyers even see it. If your home isn't getting showings at all, the question becomes whether buyers are seeing it online or not seeing it because the marketing isn't reaching them. Maybe the photos aren't strong. Maybe a cell phone was used instead of a professional photographer. Maybe the listing isn't using showcase tools, the 360 walkthrough, and video, the extra pieces that help us sell your home fast to local buyers and to people seeing it from out of town. If great marketing isn't turning into showings, that's a problem we can fix.

Communication ties the whole process together. This is where we spend a lot of our energy. We communicate throughout the entire process to gather feedback, understand what buyers are saying, and understand what other agents are saying. 

We do everything we can to understand how the market is responding to your home, and then we keep you in the loop the whole way through. That feedback loop is how we figure out what's really going on and adjust.

Because we look at all four of these together, we usually have a very good understanding of why a home didn't sell the last time, what we'd do differently this time, and how to build a strategic plan to get it sold in today's market for top dollar, without dragging on through endless showings. 

Whether your situation calls for a sharper price, better presentation, stronger home-selling strategy, or simply better communication, we're happy to look at your home specifically and walk you through it.

If you'd like a free consultation and a clearer understanding of why your home didn't sell, give us a call or text at (561) 220-2052, email us at info@tricoliteam.com, or visit tricoliteam.com. We'd love to have a conversation about your home and put together a plan.

Closed sales are up, inventory is down, and our team put 126 buyers and sellers under contract in Q1 alone. Here's what the numbers are telling us.

We just finished the first quarter of 2026 here in Southeast Florida, and the numbers are in. If you've been watching this market and wondering which direction things are heading, Q1 gave us some real answers.

Strong finish to 2025 set the tone. Coming out of December 2025, we really started to see our market ramp up more than it has in past years to end the year. All great signs pointing into the first quarter of this year. Everything's been up. The MLS has been up. The overall market's been up.

Closed sales up 5.5% across Southeast Florida. That's a strong number. Pending sales went up over 7%, which is exciting because pending sales are the leading indicator of where the market is heading.

"Our closed units in the first quarter went up 39% from Q1 last year, and we helped 126 buyers and sellers get under contract."

Our team has had a big start to the year. We've kind of crushed the market compared to the averages. Our closed units in the first quarter went up 39% from Q1 last year. On the pending side, we helped 126 buyers and sellers get under contract with their home in Q1 2026. That's over a 34% increase for us this year. It's probably been one of our best starts to a new year ever.

Days on market is the one number that went up. The last average across the MLS is 67 days. Ours usually runs about half that because of everything we do with marketing and our sole focus on getting homes sold and helping buyers. But across the broader market, homes are still taking a little longer than normal to sell.

Average and median home prices have ticked up slightly. That's good news for sellers and for homeowners building equity. Prices are moving in the right direction, even if gradually.

Active listings are down. There are fewer homes, townhomes, and condos for people to choose from in our market than there were this time last year. Now, comparing that to 2022, our inventory is still probably two and a half to three times the amount it was back then, which is likely why days on market continue to grow. But that number coming down is important. 

A tight supply with steady demand typically drives higher sales value and can push prices up. We've already seen a bit of that.

New listings on the market are also down. That means fewer homes are coming to market, which further tightens supply. Less inventory and increasing demand usually help sellers.

Months of supply sit at eight months total. That includes houses, townhomes, and condos altogether. But the markets are different when you break them out. Single-family homes are sitting closer to about five months of inventory, which is a much healthier number. 

Condos are still fairly high, around 10 to 11 months of inventory. So if you're a buyer looking at condos, you have more options and more room to negotiate. If you're looking at single-family homes, things are tighter.

That's a brief analysis of the first quarter here in 2026. If you want to know more about the market or more about your particular home, whether you're thinking about buying or selling, give us a call, email us, or text us anytime. We'd love to set up an appointment. Reach us at (561) 220-2052 or email info@tricoliteam.com. You can also visit tricoliteam.com for more. We look forward to hearing from you.

Lowball offers are frustrating, but you don't have to accept them right away. Here are four effective strategies to handle these offers and turn the negotiation in your favor.

Lowball offers are a common part of the real estate process, but receiving an offer far below your asking price can be frustrating. You might find yourself asking, "Are they serious?" or "What should I do next?" Instead of getting upset, it's important to approach lowball offers with a strategic mindset. 

Lowball offers are often used as a negotiation tactic. The buyer is looking for a good deal, and the seller wants the best price possible. It’s a typical part of the back-and-forth in real estate transactions. A lowball offer doesn’t necessarily mean the buyer doesn't value your property; it might simply be a starting point for negotiation.

Here are the best ways to handle them while keeping control of the situation.

1. Understand the offer. The first thing to do when you receive a lowball offer is to take a moment and assess the situation. Instead of reacting right away, try to understand where the offer is coming from. Is the buyer trying to negotiate the best price, or do they not fully understand the market?

In some cases, the buyer may be testing your flexibility on price. In other cases, they may simply be unaware of your property's true value. By understanding the motivations behind the offer, you can determine your next steps more effectively.

It’s important to remember that this is business, not personal. Once you understand why the offer is low, you’ll be in a better position to respond thoughtfully.

"A lowball offer doesn’t necessarily mean the buyer doesn't value your property; it might simply be a starting point for negotiation."

2. Stay calm and collected. Maintaining composure is crucial in any real estate transaction. Showing desperation to sell or being too eager to accept an offer can weaken your stance. Staying calm shows the other party that you're composed and in control, which is an advantage in any negotiation.

3. Counter with confidence. When you receive a lowball offer, it’s important to respond with a fair counteroffer that reflects your expectations. You need to remain firm but reasonable.

Communicate the true value of your property by highlighting key features like location, recent improvements, or market demand. Supporting your counteroffer with facts, such as recent comparable sales in the area, will strengthen your position.

For example, if a buyer offers $20,000 less than your asking price, don’t simply dismiss it. A more effective response would be: “I appreciate your offer, but based on recent sales in the area and the condition of the home, I believe the list price accurately reflects the true value of the property.” This shows that you're open to negotiation but also clear on the value of your property.

4. Know when to walk away. If the offer is too far below your bottom line, it may not be worth your time to continue negotiations. Walking away isn’t a sign of failure: it’s a demonstration of your confidence in your price. If you stand firm, the buyer may return with a better offer. If they don’t, it might just be a sign that the deal isn’t right for you.

Knowing your limits is key in these situations. If the offer doesn’t align with your goals, it’s okay to decline and move on. Holding out for the right offer is perfectly fine.

Handling lowball offers comes down to understanding the offer, staying calm, responding with confidence, and knowing when to walk away. The important thing to remember is that negotiations are a natural part of the real estate process, and you don’t have to accept the first offer you receive.

If you have any questions or need help with your real estate plans, I’d be happy to help. Contact me today to discuss your specific situation and get tailored advice for your home sale or purchase. You can call or text (561) 220-2052 or email info@tricoliteam.com to book a free, no-obligation consultation. I’m here to help.

We just had our best quarter almost ever, 129 buyers and sellers under contract. Here's how many of them handled buying and selling at the same time.

If you're thinking about buying your next home but you still own your current one, the biggest question is usually: how do I do both at the same time without ending up with two mortgages or nowhere to go?

It's a real concern, and it's one we hear all the time. This past quarter was one of the best we've had, almost ever. We helped 129 buyers and sellers go under contract, and the reality is that most of the sellers we work with also need to buy, many of them right here in Southeast Florida. So figuring out the timing of buying and selling at the same time is something we deal with constantly. We've used almost every one of these strategies this past quarter alone.

Here are five options that are working right now.

1. The contingency sale. This is the most straightforward approach. You make your offer on the next home contingent on the sale of your current home. That way, you're not committed to buying until your home sells.

The challenge is that in a competitive situation where multiple buyers want the same home, a contingent offer can be harder for a seller to accept. The further along you are on your current sale, under contract, past contingencies, the stronger your contingent offer looks to the next seller. If you're already deep into the process, that gives us real leverage.

"We helped 129 buyers and sellers go under contract this past quarter, and almost all of them needed a strategy to buy and sell at the same time."

2. The lease-back. This is one we've had a lot of success with recently. The idea is simple: you sell your home, but instead of moving out immediately, you lease it back from the buyer for a period of time. That gives you breathing room to find and close on your next home without being rushed.

Not every buyer will agree to it, but we've been able to negotiate this on several of our listings lately. It depends on the situation, but it's a strong option when it works.

3. Bridge loans. A bridge loan is a short-term loan that bridges the gap between your current home's equity and the purchase of your next home. It allows you to move forward on a purchase before your current home sells.

There are challenges with the approval process, and it's not the most common route, but it's a real option and one we've used with clients in the past. It gives you the ability to make a stronger offer when timing is tight.

4. Tapping into existing wealth. If you have equity or assets available, there are several ways to use them. A HELOC lets you borrow against the equity in your current home to fund the down payment on the next one. Some clients borrow from their 401k to cover transition costs. And for clients with a higher net worth, borrowing against brokerage accounts and investment portfolios is another path we've seen work well.

The common thread is using wealth you already have to bridge the gap while your current home is being sold.

5. Buy-before-you-sell programs. There are now programs designed specifically to let you buy your next home before selling your current one. There are stipulations depending on your home, location, and price point, and it's an approval process, but the option exists and it's worth exploring if the other strategies don't fit your situation.

Every situation is different, and the right strategy depends on your finances, your timeline, and what's happening in the local market. The best first step is to sit down and walk through the options together.

If you'd like to learn more, we'd be happy to give you a free consultation and help you figure out which approach makes the most sense for your move. Call us at (561) 220-2052, email us at info@tricoliteam.com, or visit tricoliteam.com to get started.