Let the typical discount from asking set your tone
If you're deciding how hard to push on price, start with what buyers have been achieving. In Cave Creek, AZ, the recent norm was getting accepted near asking but not at it, so I negotiate from a measured, evidence-based position.
Looking at the latest closed numbers, the clearest signal was that recent sales averaged 97.32% of asking last month. This changes your plan because it gives you a realistic "middle" outcome to target. In other words, you don't have to start at full ask to be taken seriously, and you also shouldn't assume deep discounts are automatic in Cave Creek, AZ. Some metrics were not reported for this period. Set your first offer and your walk-away point with 97.32% of asking last month as the baseline, then adjust based on condition and how long the home has been sitting. Keep your counter strategy simple focus on net and timing, and avoid piling on terms that don't change your outcome. If you're buying in Cave Creek, AZ, I recommend we write offers that are clean and easy to say yes to, while still aiming for a price that matches recent outcomes.
