Don’t Waste This Crisis: Why Buyers (and Smart Sellers) Should Act Now in Atlanta’s Shifting Market
If you’re a buyer in today’s Atlanta real estate market, here’s the headline: don’t waste this crisis.
With everything going on globally—economic uncertainty, rising costs of goods due to tariffs, and inflation creeping in—it would be easy to hit pause. But in real estate? This moment is giving buyers more leverage than we’ve seen in a long time.
🏡 Sellers Are Still Holding Strong… But They’re Sweetening the Deal
Sellers are mostly holding their ground when it comes to list price. But here’s what they’re doing to keep deals together: they’re baking concessions into the contracts. According to a recent article in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, a whopping 62% of sellers in Atlanta are offering concessions—that’s everything from helping with closing costs to funding repairs.
And that number is only going to rise.
💸 What This Means for Buyers
This is your time. Sellers are making deals work by offering financial relief without dropping the price. That means:
If something in the inspection needs fixing, get a quote, and ask the seller to either repair it or contribute that amount to your closing costs.
You don’t have to accept a home “as-is” if the numbers don’t work.
And most importantly—don’t walk away just because a home needs a little TLC. This is your opportunity to ask, negotiate, and win.
🔨 What This Means for Sellers
Inventory in Atlanta is up 45% year-over-year in Q1, and it’s still climbing. That means more options for buyers—and more competition for you.
If your home isn’t priced appropriately, isn’t prepped and polished, or if you skip the repairs… here’s what could happen:
You don’t get showings at all.
You get offers below list.
Or worst of all—the buyer terminates after inspection.
To stay competitive, price your home inspirationally (slightly under market to create buzz and attract offers), make key repairs, and be ready to offer some flexibility.
🔁 Final Thoughts
The market is no longer tilted entirely in the seller’s favor. But that’s not a bad thing—it’s just different. For buyers, it means real negotiation power. For sellers, it means adapting your strategy.
This market isn’t crashing. It’s correcting. It’s evolving. And if you’re willing to be strategic, there’s still plenty of opportunity—on both sides of the deal.
