Navigating Negotiations: Are Most Home Buyers Comfortable Offering Below Asking Price in 2025?
In the evolving landscape of the 2025 housing market, home buyers are finding themselves in a more favorable position than in recent years. With inventory rising, mortgage rates stabilizing around 6-7%, and home prices flattening or dipping in many regions, the shift toward a buyer’s market has empowered more purchasers to negotiate.
But the key question remains: Are most buyers comfortable making an offer below the asking price and haggling with sellers? Based on recent surveys and market data, the answer is a qualified “yes”—while negotiation is increasingly common and successful, comfort levels vary by experience, demographics, and reliance on agents. Many buyers engage in the process confidently, especially with professional guidance, but others hesitate due to fear of losing the deal or market pressures.
Generational Trends
The National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) 2025 Home Buyers and Sellers Generational Trends Report provides compelling evidence of widespread negotiation.
According to the report, the median purchase price was 100% of the asking price overall, but 7% of buyers secured homes for less than 90% of asking, with another notable portion landing between 90-99%. This translates to roughly one in three buyers paying below full ask through negotiation. Agents played a pivotal role, negotiating better prices for 32% of buyers and improved contract terms for 44%. Notably, 11% of buyers specifically sought agent assistance for price negotiations, rising to 13% among Younger Millennials (ages 26-34), who are often first-timers and may feel less confident going solo.
Generational differences highlight varying comfort levels. Gen Z buyers (18-25) achieved 8% of purchases below 90% of asking, with a median of 98%, suggesting emerging boldness despite inexperience—62% were first-time buyers.
In contrast, the Silent Generation (79-99) negotiated discounts in 9% of cases, with 43% making no compromises at all, indicating higher leverage from financial stability or less urgency.
Younger groups, like Millennials, were more likely to seek agent help (16% for terms, 13% for price), implying that while they negotiate actively, they prefer support to build comfort.
Clever Real Estate’s 2025 American Home Buyer Report echoes this trend, revealing that 46% of buyers made or received concessions, with 21% securing price reductions—the most common outcome.
Priorities
Affordability was a top priority for 62% of buyers, up from 48% in 2024, driving more aggressive haggling in a market where sellers are accepting offers below list more frequently.
However, 15% of respondents said they would negotiate harder if given a do-over, hinting at some regret or initial hesitation. Interestingly, 26% found the process easier without heavy negotiation, suggesting a subset prioritizes speed over savings.
A survey by The Mortgage Reports on first-time buyers in summer 2025 further underscores growing comfort: Nearly three-quarters (73%) negotiated seller concessions, such as closing costs or repairs, which often stem from initial low offers.
This flexibility is seen as a “hack” in a market favoring buyers, where homes are lingering longer and price cuts hit 20.6% of listings by July.
Redfin data supports this, noting that only 28% of homes sold above asking in spring 2025—the lowest since 2020—implying buyers are routinely offering and succeeding below list.
How to Do It Right
Factors influencing comfort include market dynamics and personal circumstances. In buyer-friendly areas like the Midwest or South, where inventory is up, experts recommend starting 5-10% below asking, or even 11-19% for fixer-uppers.
Experienced buyers, higher-income earners, and those with children are more at ease, per older LendingTree data (though 2025-specific stats show similar patterns).
Agents are crucial: 92% of buyers in NAR’s report were satisfied with the process, often crediting agents for bridging gaps.
Yet, not all buyers are fully comfortable. Bankrate’s 2025 surveys reveal affordability anxieties, with 51% of homeowners uncomfortable buying regardless of rates, and 78% of aspiring buyers deterred by costs. First-timers, comprising just 24% of the market (a historic low), worry about losing homes—73% go agent-free but fear rejection. Reasons for hesitation include competitive remnants from seller’s markets, inexperience, or desperation (38% felt sellers exploited this in Clever’s poll).
For Your Consideration
Ultimately, in 2025’s balanced-to-buyer market, most home buyers appear comfortable negotiating below asking, as evidenced by rising concessions and below-list sales. With agent support, even novices succeed, but education and preparation are key to overcoming barriers. If you’re buying, research comps, get pre-approved, and lean on pros—negotiation isn’t just possible; it’s often expected for a win-win deal.
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