How do you find out what you are actually bidding against?

A listing agent will sometimes disclose how many offers are in play, though they are not required to share every detail about competing bids, so a buyer's agent asking directly is the most reliable way to get a read on the real competition. Reading how a seller responds to negotiation requests can also hint at how many other serious offers exist. Joel Boss pushes listing agents for that information on every competitive offer he submits.