
BiggerPockets Real Estate Podcast The Biggest Homebuyer Discounts in Over 12 Years | Feb. 2026 Update
Feb 20, 2026
Buyers are scoring the largest price cuts in over a decade as listing discounts and rising inventory reshape the market. Markets with double‑digit inventory gains and 10% off list price get special attention. Mortgage rates, sales volume drops, and whether a deeper downturn is possible are discussed. Practical tactics for negotiating below comps and when to be patient are also covered.
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Prices Flat But Affordability Improving
- Home prices are essentially flat year-over-year, rising about 1% nominally.
- After inflation and wage growth, housing affordability is meaningfully improving.
Buyers Are Getting Historic Discounts
- Redfin shows average buyers now get a 3.8% discount off list price, roughly $16,000 on a $400k home.
- Buyers who negotiate with motivated sellers can average nearly 8% discounts, over $32,000.
Geography Matters For Discount Size
- Biggest discounts are concentrated in Florida and Texas, often 10%+ in some markets.
- Even previously hot Midwest markets (Milwaukee, Indianapolis) show 3–5% discounts now.
