Spooky Real Estate Myths — And the Truth Behind Them

October is a fun time to talk about things that go bump in the night… including some of the myths that haunt real estate conversations.

Let’s bust a few:

Myth 1: “I need 20% down to buy a home.”
Truth: Many buyers purchase with far less than 20% down. There are loan programs with 3–5% down, and in some cases even less, depending on your situation.

Myth 2: “I should price my home high and leave room to negotiate.”
Truth: Overpricing often backfires. The right price attracts the right buyers quickly, and in some markets, it can even lead to multiple offers.

Myth 3: “I can skip staging; buyers will see past my stuff.”
Truth: Most buyers can’t. Clean, decluttered, and lightly staged homes photograph better and usually sell faster and for more money.

Myth 4: “Zestimates and online values are always accurate.”
Truth: Automated estimates don’t walk through homes, see updates, or understand neighborhood nuances. They’re a starting point, not the final word.

If you’ve heard something about real estate that doesn’t quite sound right, ask. I’ll always be honest with you, even if the answer is “it depends” — and then we’ll talk about what it depends on.