The smartest move right now is knowing where speed matters and where patience still pays.
If you're wondering whether you need to sprint into every showing or risk overpaying, here's my rule move fast on the right house, not on every house with fresh paint and flattering photography. In Burlingame, CA, recent numbers say competition is real, but that does not mean common sense needs to leave the building.
Last month, a typical sale took 10 days and accepted offers landed around 105% of asking. That tells me buyers in Burlingame, CA need to be financially ready before the weekend tour schedule starts doing cardio, because the market is not handing out long pauses for second thoughts.
At the same time, there were 19 active listings and 22 sales recently, and over the last three months the typical new listing sat 19 days while the typical pending home moved in 12 days. That mix matters. I see a market where the best-fit homes get snapped up quickly, while some properties still give you enough breathing room to compare condition, layout, and price without pretending every house is the last avocado at the grocery store.
I would get your approval, cash position, and must-have list locked down before you book tours. I would also rank homes by fit, not by hype, and be ready to write cleanly when one checks the right boxes. For sellers watching from the sidelines, this same pace means buyers are active, but they are not obligated to reward sloppy pricing.
