Negotiation Power

Everything in real estate is negotiable — price, closing costs, repairs, closing date, appliances, even furniture. Most first-time buyers don't realize how much leverage they can have.

In a buyer's market (more homes than buyers), you can negotiate aggressively. In a seller's market, you need to be creative.

Key tactics: get pre-approved (not just pre-qualified) before making offers. Know the home's days on market — anything sitting longer than 30 days signals a motivated seller. And ask for seller concessions toward your closing costs; in a slow market, sellers often say yes.