OK, we've got temperatures in the 90's and humidity to match.  The air quality is lousy, too.  Nonetheless, the buyers are out in force!  Well priced listings sell in two weeks or less.  Note the "well priced" part.

I am getting the distinct impression that many buyers spend more time researching homes on the Internet than agents do in the MLS.  They know what's out there. Overpriced dogs are dead dogs.  Well priced dogs go to the picnic.  Well priced cream puffs do, too.

Yes, Virginia, there are bidding wars.  They may have only two or six participants--though I recently saw one with twenty--but competition is competition.

The morals of the story are these.

For agents:  Do your homework.  Your listing should be well-priced for its category, whatever that might be.

For buyers:  Do your homework.  Be prepared.  That means, get PRE-APPROVED (not just pre-qualified) for your mortgage.  Clean up your credit.  Get your down payment money into the bank 90 days or more before settlement.  Get a really good agent.  last but not least, be psychologically prepared to jump when you see something good.  You are not the only game in town anymore.