Patience. Used to be that the winter months were when you would find the bargains. Fewer people move in the winter, so houses that get listed now until March are people desperate to move. Unfortunately, there's such a lack of supply, that there are enough people looking for houses to make the market still be a seller's market.

More houses will come on the market in the Spring and Summer, and you should have more options and more chances to win a bid.

You'll also get cheaper housing further from the coast. Maybe you wind up in Voluntown? Good school. We need more young people here, especially if you bring more balance to the demographic.