The result has sometimes been bidding wars between buyers, with some agents noting winning bids that are as much as $50,000 over the original asking price.

"Even for the shabbiest of apartments, there would be bidding wars," Ms. Sethi said.

When something in the lower price range does come on we have so many buyers they start bidding wars.

Suddenly there are bidding wars.

And when we do let the word out, often there are bidding wars for the property.

Since there's not much to buy, there are bidding wars and lots of frustrated buyers.

Now there are bidding wars on village properties.

There are even bidding wars for so-called midrange houses, though less often.

Premiums of 50 percent or more are no longer unusual for such deals, and there can be bidding wars for biotech companies, as in this case.

There have been bidding wars.