Sometimes it is justified, but only when the house and the recent numbers support it.
If you are wondering whether paying over asking is normal in Commack, NY right now, the short answer is yes, it can be. Recent closed homes averaged about 102.1% of asking, so the real question is not whether it happens, but when it makes sense.
Last month, a typical sold home in Commack, NY closed at $827,500 and took 31 days. Newly pending homes carried a typical asking price of $769,000, and only 17 homes were active at month end. With supply at 0.81 months, I read this as a market where well-positioned homes can still attract aggressive terms.
For a buyer, paying over asking should never be a reflex. It should be a strategic choice tied to the home's fit, current competition, and recent closed pricing. Some asking prices are already stretched, and some are intentionally set to attract strong response. I would rather see you pay above asking on the right house than overpay for the wrong one.
Judge the offer against recent closed and pending levels, not asking price alone. Keep your budget ceiling fixed before the negotiation begins. When the home truly fits and the pricing evidence supports it, compete decisively instead of inching in with a number that will not get traction.
