If you’re searching for ways to stretch your budget and secure the best deal in today’s housing market, here’s the truth most buyers overlook: the greatest opportunities are often hiding in plain sight. Homes that have been sitting on the market—sometimes for weeks or even months—can offer major savings, meaningful concessions, and far less competition. And the buyers who understand this strategy are the ones winning in today’s market. Here’s how home buyers are scoring the best deals.
Check out these homes across Lancaster, York, Berks, Lebanon, and Dauphin Counties that have recently seen price reductions. With a variety of styles, locations, and features now more affordable, you could discover the perfect home that fits both your needs and your budget.
1 in 5 Homes Had a Price Cut This Year
According to Realtor.com, 20.2% of homes nationwide have dropped their asking price at least once this year. Even more telling, this trend holds steady across nearly every region of the country.
What does that mean for you as a buyer? A huge opportunity—no matter where you’re looking.
There are more motivated sellers out there than you might think, and many of them are quietly signaling it with price reductions.
Target Homes That Have Been Sitting the Longest
Your Top Shelf Group agent can help you identify the listings that have been on the market the longest—and these are often the best homes to negotiate on. When a property lingers without strong activity:
- Sellers grow anxious or frustrated
- They become more flexible with their pricing
- They are more open to concessions
- You often become one of the few (or only) interested buyers
With less competition, your leverage increases dramatically.
Realtor.com explains:
“Less competition means fewer bidding wars and more power to negotiate the extras that add up: closing cost credits, home warranties, even repair concessions… these concessions can end up knocking thousands of dollars off the price of a home.”
Bankrate adds:
“During the quieter fall and winter months, when fewer prospective buyers are shopping, home sellers may be more willing to lower their prices, or offer concessions, to attract those prospective buyers who are still looking.”
And according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), the data clearly shows that the longer a home stays on the market, the lower its final sales price tends to be.
Even a Small Discount Goes Further Than You Think
A modest price reduction can lead to serious savings. For example, paying 94% of the original asking price equates to roughly $24,000 saved on a median-priced home.
And that doesn’t even include potential concessions like:
- Seller-paid closing costs
- Home warranty credits
- Repair credits or updates
- Rate buydowns
Zillow summarizes it perfectly:
“If you’re a buyer who is hoping to strike a deal, look for homes that have been on the market for a while and that may already have lowered prices to entice buyers. You may find a motivated seller who is more willing to negotiate.”
How Top Shelf Group Helps Home Buyers Find These Opportunities
At Top Shelf Group, we specialize in helping buyers uncover deals that most shoppers overlook.
Here’s how our approach gives you an edge:
✅ We analyze “days on market” to spot motivated sellers
Our team tracks listing timelines, market patterns, and price reductions to identify properties with the highest negotiating potential.
✅ We negotiate aggressively on your behalf
Less competition means more leverage—and we know how to use it to secure better pricing, strategic concessions, and favorable terms.
✅ We guide you through the entire process
From searching to negotiating to closing, we make sure you’re positioned to get the best value possible.
✅ We know the markets inside and out
Our hyper-local expertise means we know exactly where these overlooked opportunities are—and when to move on them.
If saving money, maximizing value, and finding a motivated seller are priorities for you, Top Shelf Group has the experience and strategy to make it happen.
Bottom Line
If you’re serious about finding the best deal possible, start by looking where other buyers aren’t. With 1 in 5 listings cutting prices and many sellers becoming more flexible as days on market increase, these overlooked homes could be your biggest opportunity to save.
Reach out to Top Shelf Group today to uncover these hidden deals in your local market—and let our team help you negotiate like a pro.