Recent asking and closing prices help you set a budget that can actually compete.
If you are trying to set a realistic budget, I would line it up with the market as it is, not as you wish it were. In Roslyn, NY, recent new listings were centered around $1,450,000, active listings around $1,524,500, and newly pending homes around $1,688,000.
Over the previous 30 days, Roslyn, NY showed a typical new listing price of $1,450,000, a typical active asking price of $1,524,500, and a typical newly pending asking price of $1,688,000. The typical closed price was $1,162,500. Those are the numbers I would use to build a budget that matches the search you actually want to run.
The most common mistake I see is setting a search ceiling based on the lowest likely outcome while shopping in the middle of the active range. That creates constant frustration. In Roslyn, NY, your budget needs to reflect where the homes you would seriously consider are actually entering the market and moving toward contract.
Set your search range around the current asking field, not just recent closed prices. Keep a separate cap for all-in comfort so your offer strategy stays disciplined. If your preferred homes keep clustering above your ceiling, adjust your criteria early instead of repeating the same dead-end search.
