The best reality check is how current asking prices line up with recent results.
If you are trying to tell whether a home in Southborough, MA is priced too high, I would compare today's ask with both recent closings and the price point of homes that are getting accepted. In Southborough, MA, the typical asking price for active homes was $1,360,000 recently, while the typical pending asking price over the last three months was $999,000.
That gap is useful. It suggests some current listings may be positioned above the range where recent buyer activity has been strongest, especially when the typical closed price sat at $790,000. I would not assume every higher-priced listing is wrong, but I would absolutely test the premium before you accept it.
A buyer in Southborough, MA still has to respect limited supply at 1.78 months and a seller-leaning market. Even so, recent closings came in at about 98.1% of asking, not far above it. That tells me disciplined evaluation still matters, and not every asking price should be treated as untouchable.
Use pending and closed pricing as your reality check before writing. Ask harder questions when the list price sits far above those recent benchmarks. If the home's condition and features do not clearly support the difference, slow down and reassess before you commit.
