...the people buying bikes that are causing the bike "shortage" are not looking much at CL ads for something that might need some work and still costs $500-1000 bucks. So at least here in my area, there are some nice bikes getting dragged out of dusty corners that are worth that much money, and listed for sale. Because the owners have been sitting on them with prices for old bikes depressed over the past few years.

There's and absolutely gorgeous Lygie in my size on the local CL right now, which I would buy in a heartbeat if I did not already have too many nice bicycles.

But yeah, in New England, with a shorter riding season, you might have fewer choices than me. Nonetheless, there are some top notch builders who have worked in that area of the country over the years. Discover their names (the American builders who have produced custom frames near you). They often show up on CL at relatively reasonable asking prices, because the names fly under the radar with the general public. A Colnago or a Cinelli, (Or even a Galmozzi) is always gonna be listed pretty high unless it needs to be painted. American builders not so much. American builders are an underappreciated national treasure.