Straight talk: sellers are cutting prices all over Central Texas. Twenty-seven percent of Austin listings took a price cut. About a third in San Antonio. Homes are sitting 80 days on market in Austin versus 61 nationally.
Translation: you're shopping in a buyer's market wearing a seller's-market disguise.
If you're PCSing this fall, this is your window. Here's how to use it:
Ask for more than the price cut. Concessions are where the real money is — closing-cost help, rate buydowns, repair credits. A $10K price cut saves you maybe $60 a month. A 2-1 rate buydown can save you hundreds.
Don't fall in love with the first house. Tour five. The one that's been sitting 90 days has a motivated seller — that's your leverage.
Get everything in writing. Verbal promises from a listing agent are worth the paper they're printed on.
Winter is coming, and with it fewer buyers competing. But right now, today, you have motivated sellers and negotiating room. Use it.