Ask these questions to find out more about what is happening in your property market

Whether you’re buying, selling, or simply curious about your neighbourhood’s property trends, a conversation with a qualified real estate expert can give you clarity you won’t find online. Local agents track micro-market shifts, upcoming developments, and buyer behaviour long before the data becomes public — which makes their insight incredibly valuable.

To help you walk into your next meeting prepared and confident, we’ve put together a practical guide on the key questions to ask, what their answers really mean, and the red flags to be aware of.

Are we in a buyer’s market or a seller’s market?

A real estate agent can help shed light on which way the market is trending. In a nutshell, a buyer’s market is when the supply of homes is greater than the demand, and a seller’s market is just the opposite of that.

But here’s what many people don’t realise: national and local trends can differ completely. For example, Namibia as a whole may be experiencing buyer-leaning conditions, while pockets of Windhoek or Swakopmund may be shifting into a strong seller’s market due to new schools, improved roads, or a spike in semigration.

A suburb expert can help you understand:

• Inventory levels

• Recent sales vs. listings

• What buyers in that specific area are prioritising now

• Whether you should expect competition or negotiation room

Helpful phrase to use:

“Can you show me recent sales in this suburb and where current listing prices sit in relation to demand?”

Are there plans for development in the area that could affect the local market?

Being local experts for their communities, real estate agents often know of changes in their areas before anyone else does. It is always worth checking in to see if they know of any upcoming factors that may impact the local housing market, such as new developments that may affect the flow of traffic or increase home value.

Ask specifically about:

• New shopping centres or schools

• Infrastructure upgrades

• Rezoning applications

• New sectional title or freehold developments

• Changes that may affect traffic flow, views, or lifestyle

Even small changes can shift demand significantly.

If I’m selling: how do similar homes compare, and how long are they staying on the market?

Knowing how your home compares to similar listings can help you make a more informed decision and can help provide a rough idea of how long it will take before you can expect your home to sell. Suburb experts can shed some light on these issues based on their own experiences within the local market.

Your suburb expert should be able to provide:

• Recent comparative sales

• Average days on market (DOM)

• A breakdown of the list price vs. the final sale price

• Which features do buyers in your suburb pay premiums for

This will help you set a realistic price, avoid overpricing, and understand how long your home may take to sell.

Red flags to watch out for:

• An agent who promises an unrealistically high price

• No data to support their valuation

• Hesitation to show recent comparable sales

• A push to “test the market” at an inflated price

If I am buying a home, how do I make my offer stand out in the current market?

Before deciding on what you can do about making your offer stand out, you will need to know what kind of market you are making an offer in. 

If you are in a seller's market there will not be much room for price negotiations and you will have to put your best offer forward if you want to secure the property. On the other hand, if it’s a buyer’s market, then you have a little more room in which to negotiate and can go in lower with your initial offers. Local real estate experts will be able to guide you into choosing an amount that will be most appealing to the seller given the local conditions.

Local property market conditions can change quickly, so it is advisable to develop a good working relationship with a suburb expert who can keep you up-to-date with trends.

Helpful phrase to use:

“If you were buying in this area today, what offer strategy would you recommend?”

Quick checklist: what to prepare before meeting your local expert

Get ready for your first meeting by going through this quick checklist to ensure you get the most value from your meeting:

• Review a few listings in your target suburb

• Know your budget or asking price expectations

• List your must-haves (schools, security, commute, etc.)

• If selling: gather your home’s maintenance history

• If buying: secure a bond pre-approval

• Write down your top three concerns or questions

Red flags to look out for when speaking to an agent

• No market data to support their advice

• Vague explanations about area trends

• Pressure to sign immediately

• Avoids transparent discussion about pricing

• Doesn’t specialise in the suburb you’re buying or selling in

A professional agent should feel like a partner, not a salesperson.

Local property markets change quickly, sometimes in just a few weeks. Building a relationship with a suburb specialist gives you access to early insights, accurate pricing guidance, and strategic advice tailored to your exact needs.

Whether you’re planning your first home purchase or preparing to list, asking the right questions at the right time can make all the difference.