What are seller concessions and how much can I ask for in a buyer's market?

Seller concessions are costs the seller agrees to cover on your behalf, most commonly a portion of your closing costs or a temporary rate buydown. Loan programs cap them — conventional loans allow roughly 3% to 9% of the price depending on your down payment, FHA and VA have their own limits — so you can't ask for unlimited help. In a buyer's market with homes sitting, sellers are far more willing to offer concessions than cut the sticker price, and in 2026 many buyers use them to fund a 2-1 buydown that eases the early payment. Ask your agent what's typical locally. Concessions can free up cash you'd otherwise spend at closing, but they can't exceed your actual costs.