Imagine this: You find your dream home. It’s priced competitively. You can see exactly what other buyers are offering. You know your offer counts. And -believe it or not -it actually feels fun to submit your bid.

Now imagine being able to structure your offer creatively, even in a market where traditional seller concessions are capped or restricted by your loan type.

That’s the advantage of EZ Real Estate Platform’s Buyer Premium model, a smarter, more flexible alternative to asking for concessions the old way. Instead of hitting a ceiling, you have more ways to save cash, strengthen your offer, and get to “accepted” faster.

Let’s break it down.

What Are Seller Concessions, Anyway?

In simple terms, seller concessions are when the seller agrees to pay something that reduces your total closing costs. This can include:

• Loan origination fees
• Appraisal and inspection fees
• Title insurance
• Property taxes or prepaid items
• Even repairs or upgrades

These concessions lower your out-of-pocket expenses and can mean the difference between getting into a home now or having to wait.

According to Redfin’s 2025 Q1 report, 44.4% of home sellers offered concessions to buyers in quarter one.

These numbers aren’t too far from the record high of 45.1%. As buyer affordability stretches, having a way to get creative with total closing costs is more important than ever.

Where EZ Real Estate Platform Comes In

Most buyers think of concessions as something you ask for. But on the EZ Real Estate Platform, many sellers start the process already offering value upfront through what we call the Buyer Premium model.

Here’s How It Works:

• Sellers often price their homes 6–20% lower than traditional listings would.
• A small Buyer Premium (typically 3–6%) is added to the final purchase price.
• This premium can be rolled into your mortgage, just like seller-paid closing costs or other concessions but without the cap.
• Because of the lower starting price, you may actually pay less overall, even with the premium included.

🎯 The Result: You enter a competitive, fair market where you see every offer in real time, don’t have to overbid blindly, and have better affordability options.

Buyer Premiums vs. Traditional Seller Concessions

If you’re using a loan backed by Fannie Mae, FHA, VA, or USDA, there are strict limits on how much the seller is allowed to “give you” in closing help. These are called seller concession caps, and they vary depending on the loan:

• Conventional loans: usually capped at 3–6% of the purchase price
• FHA loans: typically limited to 6%
• VA loans: often capped at 4%
• USDA loans: technically uncapped, but lenders often enforce soft limits

Here’s the problem: When you go over the cap, you can’t apply the extra toward closing costs and you lose that money.

“As a 40+ year veteran in the business, I do not know of a better platform that answers everyone’s concerns.” – Monte Mohr, Broker.

Why the Buyer Premium Is Different

EZ Real Estate Platform’s Buyer Premium model is not a traditional seller concession. It’s a fee paid by the buyer, built into the final purchase price rather than a “gift” from the seller.

That means:

✅It usually doesn’t count toward your concession limit
✅ It can often be rolled into your loan (just like part of your mortgage)
✅ It ensures the seller doesn’t pay agent commission, keeping the home price lower
✅ It gives you more flexibility to ask for additional concessions for rate buydowns, repairs, or other costs

Translation: you may get the same seller help you’d normally ask for (plus a more transparent and negotiable price!) without running into lender roadblocks.

Always check with your lender, of course. But, many EZ buyers have found that this model gives them more room to negotiate, more clarity in the process, and more buying power overall.

How Buyers are Using Buyer Premiums

The Buyer Premium gives buyers new ways to get their offer accepted, faster, while keeping their purchasing journey affordable. Here’s what today’s buyers are doing with it:

Reallocating Out-of-Pocket Costs

Instead of scrambling to come up with thousands at closing, many buyers use the premium structure to roll key expenses into their loan, including agent compensation, rate buydowns, or prepaid costs. That means less upfront cash and a smoother path to the finish line.

Negotiating Repairs, Upgrades, and Incentives

Because sellers using the premium often price their homes 6–20% below market to start, buyers walk in with extra room to negotiate. That margin can be used to ask for improvements, offset inspection issues, or negotiate creative win-win terms and still stay within appraisal range.

Staying Within Lending Guidelines

Seller concessions have limits. But because the Buyer Premium isn’t a traditional concession, many buyers avoid running into FHA, VA, or Conventional cap issues. This means you have more flexibility to structure a deal that fits your goals.

Competing with Confidence:

In multiple-offer scenarios, buyers love knowing their premium is tied to performance. The more competitive the offer, the more power the buyer has to shape terms without blowing up their budget. It’s not just about making an offer, it’s about having leverage to make a winning offer.

A Better Buying Experience, Start to Finish

In a market where every move matters, our buyer premium model gives you the power to choose your real estate journey and make strong, informed decisions along the way. You’re have options to negotiate and keep your closing costs affordable.

“[Our Agent] worked his magic to get us the best deal possible. We got our new home at an amazing price and felt completely taken care of throughout the entire process.” – Christian Park, EZ Buyer.

Ready to start? Explore EZ listings with transparent pricing on our Active Listings page.