Can I ask the seller to pay my closing costs in Tampa?
Answered
0
Yes, and in most cases you should be asking for more than closing costs. Seller concessions can cover closing costs, sure. But the higher-leverage play is taking that same seller money and using it to permanently buy your rate down instead. Closing costs are a one-time win. A permanent buydown changes your payment for as long as you hold the loan. The version that works well: offer at or above asking, ask for around 3% in seller concessions, and steer that money at the rate instead of the price. Structured right, buyers have landed as much as 1.5% below the national average doing exactly this. The seller often still nets what they wanted, and you get a payment that actually works long-term. In a Tampa market where sellers have gotten a lot more willing to deal than they were two years ago, this is very much on the table. Just know concession limits vary by loan type, so it's worth structuring before the offer goes in, not after.