The market is moving quickly, so I would rather help you stay sharp than get blindsided at the kitchen island.
Trying to figure out whether you need to move fast or stay patient before making an offer? My rule of thumb is simple move fast on the right home, not on every home, because last month a typical sale in Millbrae, CA took 9 days and recent offers landed at 109.1% of asking. That is quick, and yes, it can make perfectly reasonable people start emotionally furnishing a place they have toured for six minutes. I would rather keep you strategic than decorative.
The early answer is that hesitation has a price in Millbrae, CA. Last month, supply stood at 1.07 months, the typical sold price was $2,180,000, and the typical estimated home value was $2,247,230. When homes are moving in 9 days and selling above asking, I assume the best options will not sit around waiting for a long internal debate.
That does not mean you should sprint into a bad fit wearing optimism like a blindfold. Over the previous 3 months, there were 9 pending homes with a typical asking price of $1,688,000, and they moved into contract in 12 days. At the same time, 10 newer for-sale homes had a typical asking price of $2,341,944 and a typical market time of 18 days. My read is that Millbrae, CA is rewarding prepared buyers who can separate "I love it" from "I understand what it costs to win it."
Get fully underwritten before you tour seriously. Set your max number before the house starts flirting with you. Keep your short list tight, and review disclosures quickly so you can decide with your eyes open instead of improvising under pressure. Fast markets are not impossible. They are just allergic to indecision.
