I aim to please. So even though Lance damns me with UHS tirades, I make my best efforts to answer his requests. Lance, thank you for being part of this ongoing discussion. You add a lot.
Lance asked:

My specific question was how many of the deals where you (or your buyers) were the targets of an obvious hurry-up scam ended up closing over ask? Even better (because asking prices are often arbitrary), give us a rough BPO at time of sale and tell us how much the properties closed for in relation to that number.

How I collected these figures:
I went through my CMAs for 2010. (I do at least a preliminary CMA before any discussion about making an offer.) For simplicity’s sake, I used a single figure as Comparative Market Analysis price. I don’t actually quote a single figure to my clients; I create a range. This range is generally no more than $5000.
Note: The CMA does account for problems I noticed in the property, but doesn’t account for additional repair items identified by the inspector.

Then I looked at my notes about what my clients were reacting to (in terms of listing agent pressure.)

Then I correlated the pressured conversations about Offers with the sales data in the MLS.

So these are all properties where one of my clients considered jumping in. There are many more where they “Just said ‘no’” to the hype and I didn’t start crunching numbers.

Condos:
These were all rehabbed units in small associations. Arlington, Somerville or Cambridge
CMA//Asking price//Sale price
$315/$309/$297
$368/$389/$380
$802/$789/$801,5

Single family houses: Arlington, Medford, Somerville, Waltham or Watertown

Not rehabbed:
CMA//Asking price//Sale price
$315/$298,9/$298,9
$408,5/$399,9/$383
$454/$449/$435
$536/$559,9/$527,5

Significantly rehabbed:
CMA//Asking price//Sale price
$329/$355/$375
$461,5/$499/$505
$470,5/$494,5/$487,5
$575/$575/$576
$667/$649/$665
$947,5/$949/$1.001

So, to answer Lance’s question, sometimes the hurry-up does lead to closings over asking price. Sometimes by more than I think is reasonable, compared to CMA price. The tactic works best with rehabbed properties, where buyers seem to lose their heads most often.

New homeowners of 2010: did you pay “whatever was necessary” to get the house you wanted? What motivated you to buy the property you bought?

All homeowners: did you pay “whatever was necessary” to get the house you wanted? Do you regret it now? (Include your purchase year and town.)