The real estate market in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County continues to move quickly. Many homes are going under contract within just a few days of being listed -- and often at or above the asking price. If you're hoping to buy in the coming months, this fast pace can might make you feel hesitant to make an offer when you go view some houses.

If you tour a house and mostly like it mostly -- but feel the list price is just a bit too high -- should you make an offer?

Yes.

It's perfectly fine to make an offer below the asking price.

Will that offer be accepted? Maybe. Maybe not.

There might be other offers coming in at or above the list price. The seller might be set on their asking price and unwilling to negotiate. But submitting an offer below the list price is a reasonable thing to do.

Most sellers are not offended by an offer that is under the list price (depending on how much under the list price) -- and they typically understand that buyers are trying to make financially sound decisions. If you don't want to pay $X for a house, but you're willing to pay $Y, it's okay for us to make that offer to see if or how the seller will respond.

Of course, your odds of success with a below-list-price offer will depend on several factors -- including how long the home has been on the market, how competitively it is priced, and whether there are other interested buyers.

But don't talk yourself out of making an offer just because you're not willing to meet the list price. It's better to make the offer and see what happens rather than to just walk away without trying.