The recent mix of prices and sizes makes comparison more important than impulse.
If you feel like every listing looks different and it is getting hard to tell what is fairly priced, you are not imagining it. In Astoria, NY, recent new listings came out at a typical $1,244,500 and 1,134 square feet, while active listings were at $1,099,000 and 935 square feet, so I would set a comparison standard before you tour.
Last month, 24 new homes came to market in Astoria, NY, and the typical new listing was priced at $1,244,500. Those listings averaged $1,122 per square foot, while active inventory averaged $1,127 per square foot. That gap is small enough that layout, condition, and building quality can swing value fast.
For a buyer, this is where mistakes happen. Two homes can look close in price and still deliver very different value once you measure usable space and how long each one has been sitting. New listings recently had a typical size of 1,134 square feet, while active listings were smaller at 935 square feet. I would not compare sticker price alone.
Tour with a written scorecard. Compare space, condition, and price per square foot on every property. I would also ask how long each listing has been active, because the typical active listing had been on the market for 68 days recently, and time can create negotiating room.
