Momoney_3's journey

I recently interviewed for a position and I'm trying to gauge how close I might be to receiving an offer. I applied on August 3rd, and the recruiter reached out to me on August 20th. After a successful recruiter screen, I had an interview with the hiring manager in early September. The recruiter mentioned that the hiring manager felt we had a great conversation and wanted me to meet the team. Initially, the team interview was scheduled to be in person, but it was switched to a virtual format. The hiring manager wasn’t present during that interview; instead, I spoke with another manager and two team members. I thought the interview went okay, but there were a few answers I wish I could have handled better, which left me feeling less confident afterward. After a week without any updates, I followed up with the recruiter earlier this week. She replied quickly, saying she hoped to have an update for me soon. Just two days later, she contacted me again, stating they were close to making a final decision and needed a couple of things from me to finalize it. She asked for my ideal start date since they require at least two weeks from the acceptance of an offer, and she provided a specific salary plus bonus amount, asking if I would accept that compensation if they decided to extend an offer. I responded promptly, confirming that the compensation works for me, provided a potential start date, and expressed my excitement about the opportunity to join the team. The recruiter replied enthusiastically, saying it was wonderful to hear and that she was excited about the potential for me. She mentioned she hopes to have an update by tomorrow, or at the latest, early next week. I know nothing is guaranteed until I actually have an offer, but I can’t help but wonder if this indicates they’re preparing to make one. Is it common for recruiters to ask finalists about salary and start dates before the final decision is made? I'm trying to stay optimistic without getting my hopes too high.