Where leverage still feels real.
When negotiation is on your mind, I would start with how close sales are landing to ask. Last month, homes closed at 99.8% of asking, so I would not assume there is broad room to push without a reason.
Last month, recent sales landed at 99.8% of asking. That is a strong signal in Westlake Village, CA that leverage has to be earned, not assumed.
For buyers, the best move is to come in prepared and focused on the right fit. For sellers, the result says that good pricing still draws disciplined outcomes, which is exactly why the first ask matters so much.
Know your ceiling before you write. Keep the first offer or first response clean. Reassess quickly if the home does not earn the traction you expected.
