What to do in this situation? I offered asking after a price drop and sler countered (with no other offers)

Hi all

I’m starting to lose it with this market a bit but can’t tell if my expectations are unreasonable or what.

I saw a house I liked listed at 735K it sat on the market for 25 days before th sellers did a price drop to 720k. 5 days after the price drop I went to see it. My realtor told me it was worth about 705K. FYI, homes in this price range and city are average 5 days before going pending.

I liked it enough so I decided just to offer asking price with no sales contingency (but left in inspection required). I also planned and included in the offer that I’d be putting 50% down.

Sounds like they got a hold of my lender and they confirmed my funding that evening. They had told my agent they’d be able to decide that night or by noon the next morning. Come noon the next morning the sellers agent sent a msg to my agent asking for an extension until tomorrow at 10Am due to the 4th of July holiday and seller had sketchy internet where they were camping or whatever. I was a bit annoyed because the last seller that did this just used our offer to drum up other offers but figured I didn’t have much leverage and this is the market. So I said ok.

Later today they came back to my agent (apparently their Internet was better) and said they’re countering at 730K because that’s what they’ve wanted all along. They have no other offers and no showings in next day according to what my agent told me. They’ve also already moved out and are motivated to sell due to having two mortgages (according to my agents discussion with theirs).

I basically said I’m leaving my offer as it is and take it or leave it. My agent told me he agreed with just holding given the staleness of their listing (being so far over average time to pending in this city) and lack of other offers .

I debated with myself meeting them in the middle but just felt like I can always come back in a day or two and offer more if it truly wasn’t a bluff and they’re willing to walk away from my offer.

Any thoughts? Any other ways to play this? I’m trying not to be too pragmatic in this market but it’s my nature and I feel like I’m not emotional or able to be in love with a house so much that I just go along with this stuff. Feel free to critique my line though.

Thanks all!