The Buyer Who Always Misses Out
There’s one type of buyer I see over and over again who never actually buys. You’ve probably met them too—they’re the ones who say things like “I’ve been looking for two years…”
I call them The Bargain Hunter.
They don’t always realise it, but they fail to execute because they never feel like they’re getting a bargain. Here’s the flaw in their logic—especially in Sydney: great properties never sell for bargain prices.
So, you’ve got a choice:
Buy an average asset at a bargain price, or
Pay fair value for a great asset.
Only one of these will actually make you money in the long run (hint: it’s the second one).
Some sales agents cotton on to this type of buyer and find ways to make them feel like they’re getting a deal. Occasionally, that works. But more often, The Bargain Hunter spends years looking, wasting time, and missing out while prices continue to rise. Years later, they look back and realise they should have bought something in the first few months.
Now, don’t get me wrong—sometimes circumstances, timing, or motivation on the vendor’s side can mean a buyer lands a great deal. But that’s different to The Bargain Hunter mindset.
Example One
Last year, the week before Christmas, I purchased an original-condition 2 bed, 2 bath, 1 car unit in Bondi for $1,280,000. The owner had inherited the property, wasn’t motivated by price, and the sales agent didn’t want to wait until February to take it to market. Four months later, an identical floor plan in the same block—renovated—sold for $250,000 more. There’s no way my clients will spend anywhere near $250k on a renovation. They’ve done very well, but it was a matter of circumstances lining up, not “scoring a bargain.”
Example Two
A few months ago I helped clients buy a 3-bedroom house in Hurlstone Park. We stretched to their max budget to secure it. On paper, that might not sound like a great deal. But there were 14 registered parties at the auction, showing just how much demand there was. The property itself was exceptional: a quiet street, an oversized rear backyard, and exactly the kind of family home that will always be in strong demand. That’s not a bargain—it’s a great buy that will perform for them over time.
The difference? With a real deal, you only know it once the purchase is done. A Bargain Hunter, on the other hand, never gets there because they’re always chasing a discount that doesn’t exist.
If you do buy "a bargain", I promise you that as soon as you've settled and problems start to emerge - you will long forget the "bargain" feeling you had.
How to Avoid Becoming The Bargain Hunter
Shift your mindset. In Sydney, great properties don’t sell cheap—and they’re the ones that deliver capital growth.
Learn how to value properly. If you always think “that buyer overpaid,” it might be time to bring in a buyer’s agent to help you understand fair market value.
Take a hard look in the mirror. If you’ve been seriously searching for 6+ months and haven’t bought, you’re either The Bargain Hunter—or your expectations are unrealistic for your budget (a cousin to The Bargain Hunter)
Here’s the truth
I’ve built my business on helping people buy great properties. But even I can’t help The Bargain Hunter. Why? Because I don’t buy average properties just for the sake of a “deal.” They simply don’t perform over time.
