Thanks UCGal. Kind of seems like my post was a threadjack. I guess that was a long way of saying lowballing is not as easy as last year. Having said that, I always offered what I was willing to pay. And in some cases cash or conventional will get you preference over government low money down financing.

I never played the “highest and best” game. My first offer was always my highest and best. I was always prepared to walk on any deal, knowing there will ALWAYS be other houses out there and even the rare good deal.

One way to play the game is to make your offer a conventional offer with max down. Then, when you are in escrow you can probably change the loan type and down payment. Getting into escrow is the hard part. Cash is cash at closing. Doesn’t matter who writes the check.