5 Seller Concessions That Save Buyers Thousands in 2026

By Andrew Ricks

Andrew Ricks is a real estate agent serving the greater Phoenix Metro and East Valley, including Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, and surrounding communities.

If it feels like the cost of buying a home keeps slipping further out of reach, you’re not imagining it. A lot of buyers put all their focus on saving for a down payment and miss a strategy that can save them real money. It’s called seller concessions, and in 2026, it may be the key to stretching your budget and getting more house for your money.

Seller concessions are benefits that a seller agrees to cover that reduce your cost as a buyer. They can lower your upfront expenses, cut down your monthly payment, and give you more flexibility in how you structure the purchase. Here are the five most common and effective ones to consider this year.

1. Start with closing cost assistance. Closing costs, lender fees, title insurance, appraisal fees, and other expenses add up fast, often reaching $5,000 to $10,000 or more. Instead of paying all of that up front, you can negotiate for the seller to cover some or all of it. For a motivated seller, this is often an attractive way to move the sale forward, and it frees up your cash for the down payment or moving expenses. If you want a fuller picture of what those line items include, it helps to understand how closing costs typically break down before you negotiate.

2. Ask for an interest rate buydown. This is when the seller contributes funds to lower your mortgage interest rate, either temporarily or for the full term of the loan. Even a half-point reduction can save you hundreds each month and thousands over the life of the loan, which makes ownership far more affordable. If your monthly payment is what’s keeping a home just out of range, this is one of the most powerful asks on the list.

3. Get repair credits instead of repairs. If a home needs work, you can ask for a credit to cover the cost rather than pushing the seller to complete the repairs themselves. I recently helped a buyer get two things handled that normally would have cost around $20,000. Instead of letting the seller control the repair process, we secured credits to cover a septic decommission and a sewer line connection to the city, plus a credit toward an aging HVAC system, including $2,500 to cover the remainder of its life and a future replacement. Handling it this way gives you the freedom to hire your own contractors, do the work on your schedule, and avoid potential markups. Just be sure to get estimates so you know the credit is enough to cover the job.

4. Use a concession for a home warranty. A warranty can cover major systems like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, along with your appliances, which protects you from the sting of surprise repairs during your first year in the home. Rather than negotiating for a lower sales price, this concession buys you peace of mind while you settle into your new place.

5. Negotiate for personal property, too. Sellers may agree to include personal property such as appliances or furniture in the deal. Out here, it’s fairly common to get a hot tub, a grill, or a backyard barbecue thrown in. Not every seller will go for it, but when they do, it’s a practical way to save on items you’d otherwise have to buy after moving in.

Negotiated effectively, seller concessions can be a game-changer. They reduce your upfront cost, make your monthly payments more manageable, and help stretch your budget further than you thought possible. Whether you’re buying your first home or upgrading to your next one, the right concessions could be what makes the purchase work.

If you have questions about how seller concessions work or which ones could be right for you, reach out anytime. I’d be happy to guide you through the process and show you how the right concessions can make your home purchase more affordable and a lot less stressful. Call or text me at 404-824-0697, email me at andrew@soldbyricks.com, or visit blog.soldbyricks.com. I’m looking forward to helping you put a plan together.