Builder generosity tracks unsold inventory, so find out how many finished, unsold homes a builder is holding before you negotiate. In markets without much new construction, options may be thin. Builders sitting on excess supply are far more motivated, and they will often offer rate buydown credits, closing-cost credits, or design and upgrade credits to move homes. On agent compensation, the NAR settlement changed the mechanics: your agent's pay is negotiated and agreed in writing between the two of you regardless of the builder. A builder may contribute toward it as part of the incentive package, and in softer markets some have gotten notably more generous about that than when buyers were lining up and they had no need for outside agents. Confirm what a specific builder is actually offering rather than assuming. The practical play: - Have your agent ask about standing inventory. A builder with homes sitting has real reason to deal; one in a tight, in-demand area has little. - Ask for a combination, and let the builder's inventory position tell you how hard to push. - Aim at price, closing costs, and upgrades first. Those stay with you. We lean against hanging the whole deal on a rate buydown, since the buydown's benefit goes away if you refinance out of the loan later.