Middlebury broker reports only three affordable homes available as inventory crisis triggers competitive offers
CONNECTICUT, March 13, 2026 – Connecticut homebuyers are reviving an aggressive bidding strategy from the pandemic era as severe inventory shortages trigger multiple-offer scenarios across suburban markets.
Rob Marucci, broker-owner of Better Living Realty LLC in Middlebury, says escalation clauses, contractual provisions that automatically increase offers to beat competition, have returned after disappearing during 2023-2024 market normalization.
“My agents are calling me, and we’re trying to get creative on how to make our offer stronger again, because we are getting outbid,” Marucci said.
The tactic works by allowing buyers to set a maximum price while automatically outbidding competitors in small increments. A buyer willing to pay $340,000 might offer $320,000 with escalation in $2,000 steps. If another buyer bids $325,000, the clause automatically bumps the first buyer to $327,000, winning without reaching their ceiling.
“You don’t have your buyers overpaying,” Marucci explained. “Now you might get it for $327,000 instead of $340,000. It protects your buyers.”
The return of competitive bidding reflects genuine scarcity. In Middlebury, just 15 single-family homes are currently listed, with only two priced under $500,000, the range where most buyers can afford mortgages at current interest rates around 6%. (Data at time of writing – 5 March 2026).
Connecticut’s brutal winter compounded the problem. Record snowfall delayed pre-spring listings as sellers waited for better weather, creating compressed inventory when buyer demand typically increases.
“Everything is kind of put on pause,” Marucci noted. “Anybody that was gonna list is on hold.”
Beyond escalation clauses, Marucci says buyers are gaining advantage through full mortgage approval rather than standard pre-approval letters. Lenders now offer complete underwriting pending only appraisal, making those offers more attractive to sellers.
“If your offer is the same as another offer and the other offer is FHA mortgage, we’re going to take the offer that’s fully approved,” he said.
For sellers, Marucci advises listing immediately rather than waiting for spring, arguing current scarcity creates pricing advantages that may evaporate when delayed inventory hits the market.
Better Living Realty serves Connecticut markets with 30 agents throughout Waterbury, Middlebury, and surrounding areas.
For more information, visit www.betterlivingrealtyllc.com.
About Better Living Realty LLC
Better Living Realty LLC is a Connecticut-based real estate brokerage founded in 2010, serving buyers, sellers, and investors throughout New Haven and Litchfield Counties.