You found a house listed at $350,000 and offered $320,000, thinking it's good negotiating. In a hot market, the seller simply moves on to the next buyer. You end up chasing prices higher without ever winning a bid, losing time while the market moves forward without you. Conversely, in a buyer's market, an overly aggressive offer gets rejected. Work with your agent to research comparable sales and make a competitive offer—speed and reasonableness often win over price games.