If so, then wait for the better deal.... or increase your marketing efforts to find that better deal today.In my experience (and location), the "median price home" is not the sweet spot... so maybe start looking at the less expensive homes in your area.

Is a 1-month time-frame the sweet spot, or something longer/shorter?

Sweet

The OP was for $150k homes but I think the sweet spot for appreciation is higher than that and more central. 

He's a super sweet and intelligent guy, but he does make some questionable hygiene choices, and about once a year he has a melt down that ends with cops and/or EMS coming.  

Sweet!

Also I feel that I have much more confidence and firm negotiating stance going against a bank compared sweet ol betty going to the nursing home. 

More time to get the process, which can include delays caused by the Borrower, courts or the Mortgagee just taking their sweet time, can serve to increase advances and thus payoff and thus erode junior lien holder equity.Some states allow for a deficiency judgement and others do not.  

Bad knees, bad back, and arthritis in the hands had plagued me for a while, but I pushed through in order to keep my sweet military job.  

The sweet spot between 8% to 12% is mitigated by equity.