The best way of predicting what a sale price is going to be is to have a look at what other similar properties have sold for - not their asking price.

You can get sales reports for about $10 from memory, then you google the addresses and have a look at the pics.

A property is only worth what someone is prepared to pay so the asking price in a flat market is not always an accurate guide as to what it will sell for.

Different areas also have VASTLY different markets. We sold in inner Melbourne for $150K more than advertised selling range and about $70K higher than our reserve. We bought at the same time in the country for about $5K less than advertised fixed price. It wasn't a negotiable price but we negotiated as I'd noticed from the sales reports that houses here generally went for below what they were advertised for. Friends also bought houses here and paid the advertised price - they were astonished when I told them that I negotiated, they didn't think they could. You can. It might not work and you risk missing out on a place if there's another buyer but you take a calculated risk.

Do lots and lots of research on what houses sell for in the areas you're interested in.