In this market, the answer often depends on how the asking price compares to recent closings.
A lower offer is only unreasonable if the market does not support it. In Woodside, NY this April 2026, I would say many buyers have room to negotiate because recent conditions are giving them that leverage. Last month, the market leaned toward buyers, supply stood at 7.2 months, and accepted offers averaged 92.5% of asking. In Woodside, NY, that tells me a well-supported offer below list can be entirely appropriate, especially when the asking price is not lining up with where homes are actually closing.
The biggest clue is the difference between active and closed pricing. Active homes carried a typical asking price of $693,500 last month, while recent sales closed at a typical $450,000. That does not justify every low offer, but it does justify asking hard questions before agreeing to the seller's number. I would want every offer grounded in how that specific property compares with the market around it.
The 194-day typical sale timeline matters too. In Woodside, NY, a longer path to a closing usually means some sellers have already had time to test the market and may be more open than the list price suggests. I would still separate motivated sellers from well-priced sellers, because the right strategy depends on which one you are dealing with.
Support your offer with recent closings and the property's market position. Keep terms clean so the seller can take the proposal seriously. Negotiate with evidence, not attitude. If the seller is unrealistic, I would not chase the deal past the point where the numbers still make sense.
