Evaluate strength, not just speed
If you're deciding whether to take the first offer, my answer is yes when it is strong, clean, and realistic, and no when it is shaky or inflated. In Eastmark, AZ, recent offers landed about 97.73% of asking last month, so in March 2026 I care more about certainty than a perfect number.
If you only remember one closed data point right now, make it this recent offers landed about 97.73% of asking last month. A typical sale took about 61 days last month.
That matters because early offers often come from the most motivated buyers, but motivation does not equal ability to close. Some metrics were not reported for this period.
Judge the first offer by financing strength, contingency clarity, and timeline reliability, not just by price. Counter quickly to tighten deadlines and remove ambiguity. If the offer is within realistic negotiation range given the 97.73% closing behavior, prioritize closing certainty and keep the deal moving.
