1. Compare lender credits
Ask each lender to price the same loan on the same day both with and without a credit. Compare APR, lender fees, cash to close, and the break-even period—not only the advertised rate.
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Turn a home price into three concrete savings asks
Use the Fair-Share Deal Desk to estimate a lender-credit ask, an inspection-repair target, and a rate-buydown comparison budget. Then take one concise brief to providers instead of starting another generic sales call.
Build your negotiation brief
Lender credit ask
$2,160
Inspection repair ask
$3,600
Buydown comparison budget
$4,320
Planning anchors, not guaranteed credits. Loan program and seller-credit limits vary; confirm eligibility with your lender before writing an offer.
Email this briefHow to use each number
2. Tie repair asks to evidence
Use inspection findings and written specialist estimates. Separate safety and system failures from cosmetic preferences, then decide whether a repair, closing credit, or walk-away protects you best.
3. Stress-test a buydown
Compare a temporary buydown with a permanent rate reduction and keeping the same cash in reserves. A lower first-year payment is not automatically the lowest total-cost choice.