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Daily Real Estate News | June 16, 2009 | How to Woo First-Time Buyers
First-time home buyers can be tough to catch because they are wary of overpaying and skeptical about buying homes in need of improvement.

A survey for Coldwell Banker last year found that 81 percent of first-time buyers said move-in conditions were very important. Only 7 percent were willing to consider fixer-uppers that they could buy cheaply.

Here, according to Coldwell Banker Associated Brokers in Southern California, are ways to lure a first-time buyer:

New paint, decluttering, and removing odors are very important, but don’t urge too many expensive modifications.
Offer to pay closing costs.
Provide a home warranty.
Make a counteroffer, even if the first offer is really low-ball.