Nearly Half of Homebuyers Receive Seller Concessions as Housing Market Shifts Toward Buyers
In August 2026, home sellers provided concessions to buyers in nearly half (44.7%) of U.S. home sales—the highest share for that month since at least 2020 and up from 42.6% a year earlier. This trend reflects the current buyer-friendly housing market, with more homes available and fewer competing buyers allowing sellers to offer incentives such as covering closing costs or making repairs. In Sun Belt cities like Atlanta and Nashville, concessions are especially common—reaching nearly three-quarters of home sales in some areas—as these markets have shifted from seller's to strong buyer’s markets. Concessions were least prevalent in the Bay Area (San Jose) and New York City, where housing remains competitive or balanced. In contrast, Phoenix, Charlotte, and Riverside saw significant increases in concessions year-over-year due to a surplus of listings following rapid construction during the pandemic boom. The shift is also evident as many buyers are now walking away from homes that don’t meet their expectations, confident they can find alternatives.
Topics: buyer's market home sales seller concessions Sun Belt