Negotiation is still possible, but the better leverage usually comes from targeting the right listings.
If you are hoping every seller is ready to negotiate heavily, I would reset that expectation. In Centennial Hills, NV, recent closings landed at 99% of asking last month, so the better strategy is to identify where leverage exists instead of assuming it is everywhere.
The broader market is not giving buyers a huge built-in discount. Last month, the typical sold price was $401,000, while active listings were at $384,999 and newly listed homes came on at $395,000. Supply stood at 2.73 months. Those numbers tell me you need to negotiate with precision, not with a generic low-offer approach.
For a buyer, I would focus on listings that show a reason for flexibility. In Centennial Hills, NV, a typical sale took 35 days, which means not every home is moving instantly. Newly pending homes were going under contract in about 29 days, so timing still matters, but property-specific weaknesses matter too. The opportunity is usually not in challenging every fair price. It is in recognizing when a listing's condition, positioning, or time on market creates a more realistic opening for negotiation.
Target the homes where the facts support your stance. Keep your strongest offer for the homes you actually want. When closings are averaging 99% of asking, I recommend being selective about where you push and decisive about where you need to win. That is a better way to protect both money and outcome.
