MIDWEST ACCESS: May 21, 2026

ROCHESTER, Minn. (KTTC) – Here’s your Thursday episode of Midwest Access!

SEGMENT 1: Grillin’ & Chillin’ Destination Bar-B-Q

SEGMENT 2: Grillin’ & Chillin’ Wildwood Sports Bar & Grill

SEGMENT #: Grillin’ & Chillin’ - The Reveal

SEGMENT 4: Girl Scouts Check-In

SEGMENT 5: Real Talk with Robin - How to Negotiate Existing Homes vs New Builds

Thinking about buying a home and not sure if you should go older and “lived in” or shiny and brand-new? How you negotiate depends a lot on which route you choose.

EXISTING HOMES: EMOTIONS & FLEXIBILITY

When you negotiate on an existing home, you’re dealing with people and feelings, not just numbers.

Sellers may be:

• Relocating
• Downsizing
• Under financial or family stress

That can affect:

• How realistic their asking price is
• How flexible they are on repairs, timing, and closing costs

With existing homes, you can often negotiate:

• Price
• Closing costs
• Repairs and inspection items
• Appliances and inclusions
• Possession date

Because many owners have equity and the home has appreciated over time, there’s often a little more room to deal—especially if the home has been on the market a while.

NEW CONSTRUCTION: IT’S A BUSINESS DECISION

New builds are usually much more numbers-driven.

Builders are looking at:

• Land, materials, and labor
• Carrying costs (interest, taxes, utilities, insurance)
• Profit margin

They’re also protecting:

• Neighborhood price integrity
• Future appraisals
• Existing buyers who already paid more

That means big price cuts are rare. Instead of pushing only on price, smart buyers focus on:

• Incentives (closing cost help, rate buy-downs)
• Upgrade packages (floors, cabinets, appliances)
• Spec or model homes that are finished or nearly finished

Those finished homes are costing the builder money every month, so there’s often more flexibility there than on custom homes or hot floor plans on premium lots.

SIMPLE WAY TO THINK ABOUT IT

• Existing home:Negotiation is about reading the seller — their motivation, timing, and emotions.
• New construction:Negotiation is about understanding the builder’s numbers — where they can give a little without hurting the whole development.

In many markets, new construction is only about 8–12% of the overall market, so most buyers will still end up in the existing-home game—but knowing how each side thinks can save you real money either way.