You have room to negotiate, but the recent numbers do not support casual or sloppy offers.
If you are trying to figure out how hard to push when you write an offer, I would stay measured, not timid. In Michigan City, IN, recent closings averaged 96.3% of asking, so buyers have some room to negotiate, but not enough room to treat every listing like it will fold.
The recent setup gives buyers a useful middle ground. Supply stood at 3.12 months over the previous 30 days, which leans toward sellers, yet recent accepted offers still came in below asking at 96.3%. That tells me the strongest approach is a clean offer built on evidence, not an emotional swing too far in either direction.
The sale timeline supports that same mindset. A typical home that closed in Michigan City, IN took 25 days recently, so I would not assume every property will sit long enough for repeated low offers. At the same time, the typical closed price was $160,000 while active asking prices were at $259,900, and that gap is exactly why I would test value carefully before agreeing to a seller's number.
Get your financing and paperwork ready before you negotiate. Focus on homes where the asking price can be justified against recent closings. Write offers that are serious, readable, and easy to accept. If a property is overpriced, let the numbers guide your limit and be willing to move on.
