You listed your Burnaby home, waited, and the first offer that finally arrives is well below asking. Maybe way below. The first reaction is almost always the same: feeling insulted, wanting to reject it and wait for a "real" buyer.
That reaction costs sellers money. In Burnaby's 2026 buyer's market, a low offer is rarely an insult. It's information, and how you respond determines whether you turn that buyer into a sale or watch your listing sit for another two months.
Let me walk through how to read a low offer and what to actually do.
Why You're Getting Low Offers Right Now
First, some context so you don't take it personally. Burnaby is firmly in a buyer's market. There are about 2,010 active listings, the absorption rate is 6.8%, homes are taking 40 days on average to sell, and prices have drifted down about 4.1% versus the prior 90-day average (MLS® board records, July 2026).
In that environment, buyers have choice and leverage, and they know it. A low opening offer isn't a comment on your home. It's a rational buyer testing where you'll actually transact. Understanding that is the first step to responding well instead of reacting badly.
A Low Offer Tells You Three Things
When a buyer writes a low offer, they've told you more than the number:
They're interested. In a market with a 40-day average days on market, a written offer is a real signal. Plenty of homes get showings and no offers at all. A buyer who took the time to write one is engaged, even at a low number.
They think your price is high. Sometimes they're fishing. But sometimes they're reading the same comparable sales you should be reading, and the offer is telling you the market has moved below your list price. That's worth knowing either way.
They likely left room to move up. Most serious lowball buyers open low on purpose, expecting to negotiate up. The opening number is a starting position, not their ceiling.
The Move That Usually Works: Counter
In almost every case, the right response to a low offer is to counter. Here's why.
A counter keeps the conversation alive. Rejecting an offer outright ends it, and in a buyer's market you may not get another one quickly. A counter, even a firm one close to your list price, signals you're willing to deal and invites the buyer to come back.
A counter also gives you information fast. Within a day, you'll know whether this was a serious buyer testing you (they'll counter back and move toward you) or a tire-kicker who'll vanish. Either way, you learn something, and you've lost nothing.
The counter can be aggressive. If you believe your price is fair and supported by recent comparable sales, counter near your list price with the data to back it. You're not obligated to meet a lowball in the middle. You're obligated only to keep the door open and let the buyer decide whether they're serious.
When to Hold Firm
There's one situation where I tell sellers not to chase a low offer: when the home is priced correctly and the buyer is simply fishing.
If your list price is well-supported by recent Burnaby comparable sales, your home shows well, and the low offer comes with no real movement when you counter, then the buyer was testing, not transacting. In that case, hold your position, counter near list, and let the listing continue to attract buyers who value it correctly. A well-priced home in a good Burnaby catchment still finds its buyer, even in a soft market.
The skill is telling the difference between a market that's telling you your price is high, and a buyer who's just probing. That comes down to reading the comparable sales honestly. If three recent sales of similar homes support your price, hold. If they don't, the low offer may be the market talking, and the correct pricing guide covers how to read that.
How to Spot a Serious Buyer
Not every low offer deserves the same energy. Look at the whole offer, not just the price:
- Conditions. A clean offer with tight, reasonable subject periods signals a serious, prepared buyer. An offer stuffed with long, open-ended conditions signals someone hedging.
- Deposit. A healthy deposit shows commitment. A token deposit on a lowball is a weaker signal.
- Financing. Is the buyer pre-approved? A financing letter attached to the offer tells you they can actually close.
- Completion timeline. A realistic completion date that works for you adds value even at a lower price.
A slightly lower offer from a fully-qualified, ready-to-close buyer can be worth more than a higher offer from someone whose financing is shaky. Price is one term. It's not the only term.
Don't Let Your Listing Go Stale
Here's the trap. A seller rejects the first low offer out of pride, refuses to counter, and waits. Weeks pass. The days-on-market counter climbs. Buyers see a listing that's been sitting and assume something's wrong with it or that the seller is desperate. The eventual sale price ends up lower than that first buyer would have paid, because a stale listing loses leverage.
In a buyer's market, momentum matters. Engaging with offers, even low ones, keeps your listing active and signals to the market that you're a real seller. That's worth more than protecting your ego on the first number. If your home has been sitting, the selling in Burnaby 2026 guide covers how to reset a stale listing.
Key Takeaways
- In Burnaby's buyer's market (2,010 listings, 6.8% absorption, 40-day average DOM), a low offer is information, not an insult.
- A low offer tells you the buyer is interested, thinks your price is high, and probably left room to move up.
- Counter almost every low offer. It keeps the conversation alive and quickly reveals whether the buyer is serious.
- Hold firm only when your price is well-supported by comparable sales and the buyer is just fishing.
- Read the whole offer, conditions, deposit, financing, timeline, not only the price. A qualified buyer at a slightly lower number can beat a shaky one at a higher number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I reject a lowball offer on my Burnaby home?
Usually no. In a buyer's market, a low offer is information, not an insult, and rejecting it outright ends a conversation you may not easily restart. The better move is almost always to counter, even near your list price. A counter keeps the door open and quickly reveals whether the buyer is serious or just fishing.
How do I know if a low offer is serious or just a tire-kicker?
Look beyond the price. A serious buyer typically writes a clean offer with tight, reasonable conditions, a healthy deposit, a financing pre-approval, and a workable completion date. Counter the offer, and a serious buyer will move toward you within a day. A tire-kicker won't respond or won't budge, and you've lost nothing by finding out.
Why am I getting lowball offers on my Burnaby home in 2026?
Burnaby is in a buyer's market, with about 2,010 active listings, a 6.8% absorption rate, and prices down about 4.1% versus the prior 90-day average (July 2026). Buyers have choice and leverage, so low opening offers are common and rational. It usually reflects market conditions, not your specific home.
Should I counter a lowball offer or wait for a better one?
Counter it. Waiting for a better offer in a buyer's market often means your listing sits, the days-on-market counter climbs, and buyers start to assume something's wrong. That usually leads to a lower final sale price than the first buyer would have paid. Countering keeps momentum and leverage on your side.
Sources
- MLS® board records, July 2026 (Burnaby active listings, absorption rate, average days on market, price trend)
- Greater Vancouver Realtors, June 2026 MLS® HPI
Related Guides
- Pricing a Burnaby Listing Correctly
- Selling a Burnaby Home in 2026
- Best Time to Sell in Burnaby 2026
- Staging That Actually Works in Burnaby
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If you've got a low offer in front of you and you're not sure whether to counter, hold, or walk, that's the exact call I help Burnaby sellers make, backed by the comparable sales that tell you what your home is really worth today. Reach out directly or book a valuation to see where your price should sit. Jersey Li, PREC, Sutton Group - 1st West Realty
Sutton Group - 1st West Realty · Medallion Club Member (Top 10%)
Burnaby real estate advisor and multiplex strategist. Licensed REALTOR® with Sutton Group - 1st West Realty, specializing in residential, multiplex, and redevelopment transactions across Burnaby and Metro Vancouver.
