In NW Montana, emboldened by the rapid increase in values several years ago, are a substantial number of sellers who have their homes or land on the market, particularly higher end - trophy properties and valuable waterfront - lets say over 1 million list price.  There are far more "for sale" than there are buyers absorbing this extensive high end inventory right now in the greater Flathead Valley.  Because most sellers overall in this category are financially comfortable, they have not been dropping prices on an extensive level - basically they've been holding out for their "perceived value" because they have the financial means to do so. 

But this same group may inadvertantly be partially the cause of some their own future value reduction. Heres why . . . When buyers come a lookin' they are met with such an abundance of options that they very much internalize the supply & demand tactic when writing offers.  I've seen virtually no sense of urgency from these high end buyers because if they happen to miss out on one, there are plenty more showcase properties to look at.  They have no real compelling reason to offer full price even if the price seems under market.  Flathead Lake alone has over 100 homes for sale (thats not counting waterfront condominiums on Flathead Lake).   Eventually they'll happen upon the few in this group of sellers who are very motivated and will sell at a substantially reduced price, perhaps less than they had too if the inventory had been less.  If however those sellers who didn't need to sell were off the market, the buyer's choices would be more limited thereby decreasing supply and keeping prices more stable.

While its nice to have your property on the market thinking that if someone comes along who will pay what you are asking you'd sell, but until you are really ready & motivated to sell you are in essence flooding the market and probably really just enabling the market to fall, decreasing your own chances of getting a full price offer, and in general decreasing the value of your own real estate portfolio.