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How To Find the Best Deal Possible on a Home Right Now
If you want to stretch your dollars in today’s market, here’s the strategy top buyers are using:
Focus on homes that have been sitting on the market longer than average.
When a home lingers, sellers become more realistic—and often more willing to negotiate. That’s where savvy buyers are finding opportunities others overlook.
The Opportunity: 1 in 5 Homes Has Cut Its Price
Realtor.com reports that 20.2% of all listings have reduced their asking price this year. Even more interesting?
That trend is consistent across the country.
Translation:
No matter where you live, there are deals hiding in plain sight—you just need the right strategy and the right agent to find them.
The Strategy: Target Homes Sitting the Longest
Your agent can quickly identify properties with a higher number of days on market.
These homes often represent your biggest negotiation leverage because:
- The seller may be growing impatient
- Interest typically declines the longer a home sits
- You face less competition from other buyers
Realtor.com explains it perfectly:
“Less competition means fewer bidding wars and more power to negotiate the extras that add up: closing cost credits, home warranties, even repair concessions . . . these concessions can end up knocking thousands of dollars off the price of a home.”
Bankrate echoes the same trend:
“During the quieter fall and winter months, when fewer prospective buyers are shopping, home sellers may be more willing to lower their prices, or offer concessions, to attract those prospective buyers who are still looking.”
The National Association of Realtors (NAR) backs this up with data showing that the longer a home stays on the market, the lower it typically sells for compared to the original asking price.
This is one of the most reliable patterns in real estate pricing behavior.
Even a Small Discount Goes a Long Way
Saving “just” 6% might not sound dramatic—but it adds up fast.
On a median-priced home, that’s roughly $24,000 in savings—money you can put toward closing costs, renovations, or a lower monthly payment.
Zillow puts it simply:
“If you’re a buyer who is hoping to strike a deal, look for homes that have been on the market for a while and that may already have lowered prices to entice buyers. You may find a motivated seller who is more willing to negotiate.”
Bottom Line
If you want to find the best deal possible, start looking where other buyers aren’t.
With 1 in 5 sellers reducing prices and many becoming increasingly flexible, long-sitting listings may offer the best value in today’s market.
Talk to your local real estate agent to identify these opportunities in your area and build a negotiation strategy that puts you in the strongest position.
