You see the list price, meet it, and get the house... right? Wrong—the current owners often have their pick of buyers, and in a competitive market the price can be bid up, or the house could go to a different buyer who’s offering cash instead of a mortgage-backed bid. So, before you get your heart set on a dream house that’s “the one,” be prepared to suffer through a few rejected bids, a little more negotiation, and a couple of road bumps before you finally secure a house you love.