Recent supply and sale timing suggest you can stay selective, but you still need a plan.
If you are wondering whether you have enough time to wait for a better-fit home, I would stay patient but prepared. In Tampa, FL, recent supply stood at 4.11 months and a typical sale took 45 days, which supports a selective search as long as you know your price ceiling before the right home appears.
Those numbers create breathing room, but not endless time. A typical sold home closed at $450,000 last month, while active homes were asking $455,000, so the market still rewards buyers who know what they are willing to pay before they find the right property. That matters even more when you are focused on long-term comfort and do not want to reverse course later.
The recent 96.8% of asking figure also tells me negotiation is part of the market, not an exception. In Tampa, FL, that gives me confidence telling clients to wait for real fit rather than forcing a compromise too early. Sellers can read the same number as a reminder that price and terms need to be grounded in what the market is actually accepting.
Set your non-negotiables before the next showing. Match each home's asking price against the recent $450,000 closing level and decide your ceiling in advance. Keep your financing and paperwork organized so when the right home arrives, patience does not turn into delay.
