I would let the recent selling timeline set the pace, not panic.
If you keep asking yourself how quickly you need to move when a good home appears, I would answer it this way quickly enough to stay competitive, but never so fast that you ignore the numbers. In Irvine, CA, a typical sale took 26 days over the previous month.
That timeline sits alongside 2.93 months of supply in Irvine, CA and buyer offers landing at about 98.1% of asking. The typical sold price was $1,597,500, while active homes showed a typical asking price of $1,798,000. To me, that says you need structure more than speed for speed's sake.
For a first-time buyer, this is one of the most important distinctions in the market. I do not want you dragging your feet, but I also do not want you making rushed decisions on homes that are not priced well. The right approach is to move fast only after your budget, priorities, and pricing check all line up.
Get fully ready before the right listing appears. Compare every serious target with recent closings. Act decisively when the property, the budget, and the pricing all point in the same direction.
