In July, the number of U.S. homebuyers hit a new low at 966,752, according to Redfin. Meanwhile, nearly 1.46 million sellers were in the market. That means sellers outnumbered buyers by nearly half a million people. Which means buyers still in the market are facing less competition for available homes, creating real negotiating power with motivated sellers. 
 
In fact, nearly 80% of the largest U.S. metros (39 out of 49) are buyer’s markets. 
 
But real estate is local, and not every seller will be willing to make a deal. So how can you tell when you may have leverage on a particular home? National trends provide context, but the clearest clues are often hiding inside the listing itself. Here are seven signs that a seller may be ready to negotiate, and how you can use that opportunity.

 
Potential Sign #1: The Home Has Been on the Market Longer Than Similar Properties
The longer a home sits on the market, the more motivated a seller may become. Aa ...