Limited supply creates pressure, but pressure is not a reason to overreach.
Feeling like you need to jump on the next available home in Boylston, MA just because choices are limited? I would be careful with that. Tight supply can speed up decisions, but it should not push you into paying for the wrong house at the wrong level.
The market is clearly competitive on selection. Boylston, MA had 1 month of supply last month, and active homes carried a typical asking price of $750,000. At the same time, recent closed homes over the last 3 months showed a middle price of $516,500, with sales ranging from $405,000 to $920,000.
That gap is exactly why I tell buyers to stay disciplined. Asking prices show where sellers want to start, but closed prices show where deals actually finished. In Boylston, MA, the middle asking price for new listings over the last 3 months was $699,000, which is closer to the active market than the closed middle price, so I would evaluate each property on its own merits rather than assuming every list price is justified.
Decide your maximum number before you fall in love with a house. Use the recent closed range to test whether the asking price is realistic. Keep your offer terms clean and your decision process short, but do not let urgency erase your standards.
