To buy a home, you always have to do some negotiating. Even if the seller doesn't haggle over the offering price, you still need to negotiate whether to include appliances and other household items in the sale, and what contingencies to include in the sales agreement.

#1. Patience.

Patience is an important element of negotiating a home purchase in today's market. Some sellers have unrealistic expectations about the current market value of their homes.

#2. Stay objective

Maintain some emotional distance so you can negotiate well, and refer to your comparative market analysis (CMA) often so you don't overpay.

#3. Don't let time pressure get to you

You may have to act more quickly in a hot (seller's) market, but consider your decision carefully, weigh the inflated price against the home's true market value and make sure you're aware of any defects before you buy.

#4. Don't be afraid to walk away

Remember that ultimately you have the power in negotiations because you don't have to buy the house if you don't get the terms you want.