Looking at homes is easier when you know the difference between current asking prices and recent contract activity.
If you are about to start touring homes in Boston, MA, I would not treat every list price as equally meaningful. The better approach is to compare the active asking level, the price of newly accepted deals, and recent closings before deciding how serious to get about any one property.
Here is the practical spread last month in Boston, MA active homes were priced around $1,667,500, newly accepted deals were around $1,325,000, pending homes were around $1,395,000, and a typical closed sale was $1,170,000. Recent offers also landed near 97% of asking.
That mix gives you a sharper touring filter. I would expect some homes to be priced ahead of where the market is willing to close, while others are better aligned and deserve faster action. The point is not to dismiss every asking price. The point is to know which ones have support.
Rank homes by value support before you schedule a second visit. Compare each asking price with recent closings and contract pricing. Move quickly on the homes that are aligned, and step back from the ones that are only aspirational. For relocation clients looking in Boston, MA, I would apply the same filter before booking travel.
