Nearly half of homebuyers are now getting seller concessions
Nearly half of homebuyers are now getting seller concessions
Original article: “Nearly Half of Homebuyers Get Concessions From Sellers as Most Markets Tip in Buyers’ Favor”
Dana Anderson, Redfin — September 18, 2026
What the article says: Sellers provided concessions in 44.7% of U.S. home sales in August, up from 42.6% a year earlier and the highest August share in Redfin’s records going back to 2020. Even more interesting, 15.8% of sales included both a seller concession and a price reduction.
The shift is especially pronounced in several Sun Belt markets. Concessions occurred in 72.8% of Atlanta transactions, 67.9% in Charlotte, 67.4% in Phoenix and 66.3% in Raleigh. Meanwhile, concessions remained uncommon in markets such as San Jose and New York.
Our Take: Investors shouldn't look only at asking prices when measuring whether the market is improving for buyers.
A $10,000 price reduction is one form of negotiation. But having the seller cover repairs, closing costs or other expenses can sometimes have a larger immediate impact on the cash an investor needs to bring to closing.
The growing use of concessions tells us something important: more sellers are willing to negotiate to get transactions completed.
Why This Matters to Investors: Acquisition opportunities don't require a housing crash. They can emerge simply because the balance of negotiating power changes.
For investors who have spent the past several years competing against multiple offers and sellers unwilling to negotiate, this is a meaningful change.
How Investors Can Use This Information: Don't negotiate only on price. Depending on the property and financing, consider negotiating closing costs, repairs, credits, rate buydowns or other permitted concessions.
Also pay attention to geography. Redfin's numbers show that buyer leverage varies enormously by market.
**Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial, investment, or other professional advice. Information is based on publicly available sources and may change over time. USREISA does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of information provided by third-party sources. Any opinions or commentary are for educational purposes and should not be considered investment recommendations. Always conduct your own due diligence and consult qualified professionals before making real estate, financial, legal, or investment decisions. Original reporting is credited and linked above; USREISA is not affiliated with or endorsed by the original publisher unless otherwise stated.