Limited selection is real, so the smartest move is to shop with tighter standards.
If you are wondering whether waiting will give you more options, I would make decisions based on fit, not hope. In Rensselaer, IN, recent supply was just 1.83 months, so buyers do not have much room to be casual right now.
The answer is that choice is limited, but it is not impossible. Over the previous 30 days, there were 22 active listings and 15 sales, while a typical home took 26 days to sell. A typical sold price reached $260,000 last month, and recent offers came in around 97.5% of asking, which tells me buyers still have to stay disciplined when the right home appears.
That matters because low supply changes how you search. In Rensselaer, IN, a broad and unfocused home search can cost you time you do not really have, especially when the typical pace is under a month. I would not treat every available property as interchangeable. The better move is to narrow your must-haves, know the price range you can support, and be ready to move when a home meets those standards.
Set your non-negotiables now. Keep your financing and paperwork ready before you tour seriously. Use the recent $305,000 typical asking price as a reference point, then compare it carefully to the $260,000 typical sold price so you do not confuse aspiration with value. If a property in Rensselaer, IN checks the right boxes, make a clean decision quickly rather than restarting your search each weekend.
