How to Know When to Be Patient (Or Call It Quits) When Buying or Selling Real Estate

We’ve all been there. Standing in a long line at a busy coffee shop, stomach rumbling as you wait for a table at a popular restaurant, or holding on the phone as elevator music plays endlessly. You glance at your watch, shift from foot to foot, and start to wonder if it’s worth the wait. The line inches forward, and you weigh your options.

Maybe you stick it out, thinking you’re already invested this far. Other times, you hit that breaking point, throw in the towel, and move on. Either way, there’s a strange satisfaction in making the choice—even if it’s just to leave and grab a sandwich somewhere else.

There’s something empowering about deciding enough is enough. No one likes waiting for the unknown, and we’re often torn between patience and action. Sometimes walking away feels like the smartest move. Other times, persistence can pay off, and we’re glad we waited—whether it’s for that perfect table or a situation with bigger stakes, like buying or selling a home.

Real estate is full of these moments. Buyers and sellers alike face decisions where waiting feels endless and impatience starts to creep in. Should you hold firm and stay patient? Or cut your losses and move on? The challenge is knowing which is the right choice, especially when emotions run high and the stakes are significant.

It Takes Time for Your Brain to Figure Out if It’s Worth the Wait…

According to a recent study, our brains have a built-in system that helps us decide whether to keep waiting or call it quits.

It’s more than simple patience or impulsivity. Different regions of the brain actually calculate the value of sticking it out versus walking away, adapting in real time as the situation unfolds. In other words, our brains are constantly performing mental math, weighing whether the reward is worth the wait.

Sometimes persistence is the right move, and sometimes quitting is the smartest decision. The key is knowing which path to take, which the study showed can take time for your brain to analyze in order to make accurate predictions and judgment calls.

In real estate, this decision-making process becomes even more challenging because it’s not something people tend to do frequently and emotions often come into play. Buyers and sellers need to evaluate when patience will pay off based upon little experience, and with a lot of money on the line.

There are times throughout the process that it can be tempting for both buyers and sellers to call it quits, when patience is actually what’s needed.

Here are common situations where sellers struggle to decide whether to wait or move on:

• When they’re waiting for offers to come in.
  It’s hard to stay patient when offers aren’t rolling in as quickly as hoped, particularly in a slower market. But sometimes you just need to wait for the right buyer to come along.
• When they’re considering lowering their price.
  When it comes to lowering their asking price, sellers often wait too long, rather than address the issue as soon as it becomes apparent that their price is too high.
• When they aren’t getting many buyers coming to see their house.
  A lack of activity can feel discouraging. Many sellers faced with this consider pulling their home off the market or switching agents, but sometimes the issue comes down to market conditions—not the home itself or their agent.
• When there are delays during escrow.
  Even after accepting an offer, closing isn’t always quick or smooth. Title issues, buyer financing delays, or paperwork problems can stall the process, testing a seller’s patience. At times, it can seem like a better decision to just cancel the contract rather than just being patient and letting things get done even if they are delayed.
• When they think the market isn’t good enough.
  If market conditions take a downturn, some sellers feel like they should take their house off the market and wait for it to bounce back. While that may be a smart decision, it can also be a horrible one depending on their personal situation. Markets don’t always bounce back quickly and it could go down even more before it starts to creep back up over a number of years.

And here are some common scenarios where buyers grapple with the decision to wait or quit:

• When they can’t find the “right” home.
  The search can take longer than expected, particularly in competitive markets. Sometimes it’s a matter of being patient and waiting for the right opportunity. Sometimes they need to be more realistic with their expectations. But it can be tempting for buyers to just give up entirely.
• When they keep getting outbid by other buyers.
  Losing out time after time in bidding wars is exhausting and can make buyers think about giving up their home search. Unfortunately, no matter what the market is like, if there’s a well-priced house that is appealing to one buyer, there’s a good chance there will be another buyer competing for it. Continuing to try and always making the strongest offer possible is usually the better decision than giving up and hoping they’ll find their dream home and no other buyer will want it too.
• When there are delays during escrow.
  From title searches to final loan approvals, delays often feel never-ending and buyers often feel like they’re being asked to jump through too many hoops. While it can be aggravating, there’s always a possibility that something will cause a delay no matter what house you’re buying, and giving up midway through won’t get you into a new home any faster than dealing with the issues at hand.
• When they’re waiting for a seller to respond to their offer.
  Buyers often find themselves anxiously waiting for sellers to respond to their offer. Is the seller stalling for a better offer? Are they playing hardball? The wait can be maddening, but rescinding your offer may not be the best move.
• When there aren’t enough homes on the market.
  In low-inventory markets or periods of high demand, buyers may feel forced to wait for new listings to hit the market. Some buyers get so aggravated that they have to wait for new inventory that they just put their entire search on hold, which is basically doing the same thing the market has forced them to do… So usually it makes more sense to continue actively looking, and be patient.

Those are just a few of the instances buyers and sellers respectively have to weigh the pros and cons of being patient—and there’s no absolute right or wrong answer that can apply to every situation, buyer, or seller.

The study on patience showed that our brains need time to evaluate whether waiting will pay off. But for buyers and sellers, real estate isn’t something they navigate often. Without experience, it’s easy to misjudge when to stick it out and when to pivot. That learning curve can be costly—both financially and emotionally.

…Which Is Why Having an Experienced Real Estate Agent Is So Important

Agents bring an objective point of view, grounded in experience and market knowledge, to help buyers and sellers make informed decisions in many ways, such as:

• Helping you evaluate the situation objectively.
• Giving you data and advice to help guide your decisions.
• Providing emotional support to help you make calm, rational decisions.

Whether it’s knowing when to wait, when to act, or when to try something different, an agent’s perspective can help you avoid costly mistakes.

The Takeaway:

Real estate is full of moments that test your patience. For buyers and sellers alike, it’s natural to feel torn between staying the course and making a change. Understanding when to wait and when to act isn’t easy—but it’s a decision that can make or break your real estate experience.

While persistence often pays off, knowing when to pivot is just as important. A trusted real estate agent can provide the clarity, experience, and guidance you need to navigate these moments with confidence. After all, real estate isn’t just about patience; it’s about making the right moves at the right time.