A midsize city in upstate New York is the country’s toughest housing market this spring

To hear local Realtors tell it, losing a few bidding wars is a rite of passage for any prospective homebuyer in Rochester, N.Y.In the western New York city, homes typically go from listed to under contract in a matter of days. A well-kept home can command dozens of offers. Listing prices might as well be starting bids. Agents often advise clients surfing online listings to set their price filters well below what they actually hope to pay, to account for the inevitable bidding wars.