You do not need more guesswork. You need a tighter plan for a market that still rewards speed and clean decisions.
If your main question is whether you can still buy without getting steamrolled, my answer is yes, but only if you stop shopping casually. In Daly City, CA, recent pendings over the last three months had a typical timeline of 14 days, which tells me the homes people actually want are not hanging around waiting for a motivational speech.
The setup is competitive, and the numbers are not shy about it. Over the previous 30 days, a typical closed sale took 17 days, supply stood at 1.32 months, and recent accepted prices averaged 109.6% of asking. On top of that, over the last three months, there were 10 pending homes with a typical asking price of $1,293,944, and they moved to pending in a typical 14 days.
That matters because it separates browsing from buying. In Daly City, CA, the market is still giving quick feedback homes that match what people want are getting claimed, while the decision window stays short enough to punish overthinking. Sellers can read the same tea leaves, but for a buyer the lesson is very practical - if the home fits, delay is a strategy with a terrible batting average.
Know your ceiling before you fall in love with the kitchen. Keep your tour list short and your proof of funds or financing letter ready. Compare each target home against recent closed pricing, then write offers with terms you can actually live with. Fast is good. Reckless is not.
