10/01/2026
Sellers paid concessions in 44.7% of U.S. home sales in August, the highest August share since at least 2020. It happened in the strongest buyer's market in Redfin's records, which go back to 2013.
For buyers, this is good news with a catch: most don't know how to use it.
Concessions are capped by loan type, so if a buyer asks for too much, the extra goes unused. If the credit goes to the wrong thing, the payment barely moves. If it goes to a rate buydown, whether a temporary or permanent buydown, it can lower the monthly payment.
Leverage is only worth something if you use it well. In this market, smart buyers negotiate the payment, not the price.
Source: www.redfin.com/news/home-seller-concessions-august-2026/