Q: How common is it for the seller to contribute to closing costs? Is this something that we can try to include in the contract?
A: Yes, it is very common to ask for the sellers to pay your closing costs. I would say that 50-60% of my buyers ask for seller paid costs. Just remember that this is a slight of hand. Most sellers have a bottom line, and you can offer $100 with no closing costs, or $105 with the seller paying $5 towards your closing. A sellers primary concern is what they net at the end of the day.