A published price is not proof the builder cannot move.
NAHB’s August 2026 survey reported both price reductions and sales incentives among builders. There is a reason to ask about flexibility. The survey does not establish what your builder will offer or what Settle can save you.
- Can the builder adjust the price or lot premium for this specific home?
- If price is firm, are closing credits or selected upgrades available?
- What conditions, expiration dates or financing restrictions apply?
Make every fee earn an explanation.
Request a line-by-line price and closing-cost breakdown. Lennar’s public disclosures, for example, say a buyer may owe a builder fee under the purchase agreement. A disclosed fee is not automatically improper—or automatically a cost you should accept without a question.
- Separate base price, lot premium, upgrades, solar and builder fees.
- Ask what each fee pays for and whether it can be reduced or removed.
- Distinguish negotiable charges from taxes, required assessments and third-party costs.
Compare the preferred lender with another offer.
The CFPB says you can shop beyond a builder’s associated lender. An incentive may still depend on using that lender, so request written offers with comparable assumptions and account for any credit you would give up.
Use the Loan Estimates to compare the rate, points, lender charges, credits, cash to close and longer-term costs. A promotional monthly payment alone does not answer which package works better for you.
- Are the loan amount, term, loan type and rate-lock assumptions comparable?
- Is a lower payment temporary, and what is the payment afterward?
- How much cash do you need now, and what do you pay over your expected ownership period?
Turn a concern into a specific ask.
Build your request around an actual line item, a comparable written offer or a term you want clarified. Ask for any agreed change in writing. Going without an agent does not automatically entitle you to a commission rebate or a lower purchase price.
- Name the amount or term you want changed.
- Attach the document or competing quote behind your request.
- Ask what alternative the builder can offer if the first request is declined.
Review your documents in Settle.
Nora and Finn can compare supported financing and concession scenarios using the numbers you provide, then help draft your request. Settle does not verify live market prices or a builder’s margins, contact the builder, or guarantee savings.
- Builder price sheet and options list
- Written incentive terms
- Competing Loan Estimates
- Itemized closing-cost estimate
Compare these written offers, show the assumptions and missing costs, and help me draft a request for a better price or concession. Do not assume a discount is available.Get started
Sources checked September 6, 2026. Your contract, location and circumstances determine what applies. Builder examples are illustrations, not terms of your purchase. About these guides