Homebuyers

How Homebuyers Can Win Money-Saving Seller Concessions in Today’s Housing Market

November 2, 2026

The housing market may still be expensive, but homebuyers have good reason to be optimistic. In many areas, the competition has softened enough that sellers are now motivated to negotiate. That gives buyers a real shot at lowering the cost of homeownership.

Nearly four in 10 potential sellers, 39%, expected to make concessions in 2026, up from 30% in 2025, according to a Realtor.com survey. With fewer buyers in many markets, home shoppers may find more success negotiating for lower prices, closing cost credits, rate buydowns, and other seller concessions.

“If you can demonstrate a decline [in prices and sales] with data they can see, a seller may be more receptive to a lower price,” said Veronica Peter, a Realtor at Compass in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Of course, negotiating may not work on lower-priced starter homes and properties in the most desirable areas that still draw bidding wars. But there’s room to negotiate on many homes.

Here's how to negotiate a lower price and what else you can ask for that could pay off.

How to negotiate home prices

If you’re looking to lower your monthly housing payments, purchasing a home at a lower price is a good start. A lower loan amount results in a lower monthly mortgage payment. It also means you will pay less interest over the life of the loan.

A seller whose home hasn’t received any offers after an extended period may be more likely to negotiate on price. Nationally, homes were on the market a median of 60 days in August 2026, up from 52 in May, according to Realtor.com data.

“If there is a pattern of homes sitting on the market for a longer period of time, or if there are a lot of [listings] that have been withdrawn or cancelled, those are important factors to consider when negotiating on the price,” Peter said.

Pull the comps for similar homes sold in the neighborhood over the past 90 days. If prices for those homes fall below the seller’s asking price, use these examples to support a lower offer.

How to negotiate a rate buydown

You may be able to negotiate a seller-paid interest rate buydown. Buydowns typically temporarily lower the mortgage rate for the first few years of the loan. Some builders offer permanent rate buydowns for the life of the loan.

For example, if a buyer gets a 2-1 buydown when mortgage rates are 6.5%, they will receive a rate that’s two full percentage points lower in the first year at 4.5%. In the second year, the rate will be one point lower at 5.5%. Then the rate will adjust to 6.5% for the rest of the loan.

On the surface, it may seem counterintuitive for the seller to pay to lower the buyer’s mortgage rate. But a rate buydown can benefit both the buyer and seller.

“It could allow the buyer to offer a better price, netting the seller more money while making the monthly payment more manageable for the buyer,” said Peter. “A seller credit or rate buydown could be the difference between a property selling or sitting.”

You may want to offer to pay the stated price of the home if the seller covers the buydown.

“Showing that you are willing to be creative to achieve a good outcome for both parties can certainly help a deal move forward,” Peter said.

How to negotiate closing costs on a home

Negotiating closing costs is another way to save money when buying a home. These are the final fees you pay at closing before getting the keys.

These costs typically range from 2% to 6% of the purchase price of the home. So, if your home costs $400,000, you could pay $8,000 to $24,000 in closing costs. Having the seller cover some of those costs could save you thousands of dollars upfront.

Consider asking the seller to cover a specific amount of your closing costs so you can save some money for your down payment, repairs, or other costs. The seller may want a higher price in return.

Let’s say the list price is $400,000 and the closing costs come to $16,000. You might ask the seller to cover the closing costs, but they may want you to pay $416,000 for the home in return.

Before making the request, check with your lender to make sure a seller credit is allowed for your specific loan and whether there’s a maximum limit.

How to negotiate after a home inspection

There may be opportunities to negotiate after a home inspection, even once the buyer’s offer has been accepted.

But before you ask for a lower home price or credits to cover the cost of repairs, get documentation from a professional to support your request.

“Asking for an arbitrary number [may be] ineffective. Providing the seller with inspection reports, estimates, and quotes along with your request helps the seller understand where the request is coming from,” Peter said.

“When a buyer can support their request with evidence, the conversation tends to go much smoother,” he said.

Other items to negotiate: Warranties, appliances, and closing date

Home warranty: Consider asking the seller for a home warranty purchase. A typical policy typically covers things like your HVAC and water heater in your first year.

Costs average around $1,100 for a policy, but can vary depending on your home size, policy coverage, and location, according to home service marketplace Angi.

Furniture and appliances: You may also ask for the seller to include furniture, appliances, and other items you want to keep in the home. However, you may be more likely to receive new appliances, flooring, and other upgrades from a builder than an individual home seller.

Builders purchase these items at bulk rates, so offering them to you may cost them less than giving you a price discount.

Closing date or rent-back: Being flexible about when you close can be worth as much to a seller as a higher price. If they need extra time, let them rent the home back from you for a few weeks after closing instead of holding out for a faster deal. You may be able to trade your flexibility for a lower price or other concessions.