From what I can see there are only about 5 homes in SEH at $550 or under…well, that are not contingent. Some have plus $400 mello roos and others have high DOMs (must be a reason).
I feel the “cherries” got snagging in the spring buying season. It was nuts up there. Kinda like left overs now but some stuff is trickling in. Maybe more will show up as we move into fall. My guess is banks might wait until next spring to toss more bones to the hounds.
Find an agent who REALLY knows that market. Talk to a few and see if the stories match up. You want an agent who can be a knowledgeable consultant to help you develop your overall strategy.
It’s alot of work but can pay off if you go in with your eyes open, hardened nerves, extreme patience and intuition, tons of information (knowledge), a high tolerance for disappointment, and throw in some fox-like cunning.