You proabily will not be able to convince him. He could owe that much, or the bank will not accept a paymenst of any less or he could be in a financial place where he can wait out the market and not have to take a loss now as he knows things will go back up. Toni your best bet with a builder is to get hom to add upgrades for free or at cost to make up the difference. Such as granite, hw floors, fireplace, ceramic tile, hot tub or such. Depending on how close to being finished is how much it costs to add new items. You should have a buyer broker who is experienced in new construction to assist you with putting together an offer. Builders will never listen to a verbal offer, it needs to be in writing with a deposit to show you are sincere and ready to buy.

Toni:

If the builder has built 15 units, and not a single unit has sold in the past year--you do not need to convince him/her that it is a buyer's market---he/she already has all the evidence they need, they just do not want to act on it. They may have many costs that have come up in the past year--whether related to construction cost overruns, or holding empty properties for a year--but unfortunately for sellers, that has no bearing on what the current market price is for a property. That price is determined what a potential ready, willing and able buyer is willing to pay for it, based on current market conditions and comparable sales in the area. I concur with previous posters---work with a buyer's agent to deal with the builder on your behalf--it should cost you nothing, as if they are listed in MLS they have already agreed to what compensation they will offer a buyer's agent--and your buyer's agent will have the information to work with you to present the builder with a realistic offer based on comparative properties, and negotiate aggressively on your behalf. If your buyer's agent cannot convince the seller to consider a realistic price for the property you are interested in, they can work with you to find another property that will meet your needs, and can be purchased at a realistic market price.

You have chosen a beautiful area in which to look for a home--and I am sure this market will offer you many great options. Good luck!

Let the seller know that you are considering other options. Honestly, maybe you should. There is no reason why you should not get a great buy in this market.

http://www.RemoRealty.com

You probably can't. Think about it for a moment. Why should a builder listen to you? What do you know about the market that he doesn't?. On the other hand, an experienced REALTOR, whether an agent or broker knows that particular market better than either of you, since he or she deals with sales and purchases every day and has a good idea of the current mortgage market as well. More than likely, the builder is represented by a listing Real Estate Agent..so why shouldn't you have someone who is experienced in these matters working for You? It won't cost you anything...the seller is paying the listing agency who in turn pays the buyer's agent. So call me already!

I would suggest getting your own representation. It doesnt' cost you anything to hire a buyers Realtor, the seller will pay both Realtors. Realtors are professionals trained in negotiation. There is quite a bit involved in buying a home and only a professional could do the job correctly. Please, hire a good realtor and let them help you in the process.

You can't convince someone of something that they aren't willing to hear. If the builder would end up selling for less than his costs then he is going to be reluctant to negotiate. Make sure that you are giving a reasonable offer also and not low-balling him.
If your offer is reasonable and he still isn't willing to negotiate, find another 'perfect' place. Someone else will be willing to negotiate as long as you're willing to go elsewhere.