I want to introduce you to five women.
Five women who were told “that’s just how it works” in real estate.
Five women who learned: Everything’s Negotiable™.
Their stories might sound familiar. Because one of them is probably you.
1. Meet Maya
Age 32. Single Mother of Two. Administrative Assistant. Philadelphia.
Maya has a Section 8 voucher. It’s supposed to make housing affordable.
But her landlord just raised the rent beyond what her voucher covers.
She was going to say yes. Because “Section 8 landlords don’t negotiate.”
Everyone told her that. Everyone was wrong.
Maya learned The PREP Framework™. She negotiated her rent to stay within her voucher amount.
She saved hundreds per month – money she can add to her savings.
More importantly, she learned she had power she didn’t know existed.
2. Meet Sarah
Age 28. Single. Marketing Coordinator. Boston Suburbs.
Sarah has been renting for four years. She’s saved $15,000 for a down payment.
But she thinks she needs $80,000 (20% of a $400,000 home). At her current savings rate, that’s six more years of renting.
She doesn’t know about 3% down options. She doesn’t know about down payment assistance programs. She doesn’t know seller concessions exist.
Sarah learned The PREP Framework™. She bought her first home with 3.5% down and negotiated $13,000 in seller concessions.
She became a homeowner six years earlier than she thought possible.
3. Meet Rebecca
Age 44. Divorced. HR Manager. Atlanta.
Rebecca is selling the family home as part of her divorce settlement.
She needs to maximize her proceeds so she can buy a smaller place and still have an emergency fund. Every dollar matters when you’re starting over.
She interviewed three agents. They all quoted 6% commission. She thought that was standard.
She almost accepted it. Because “that’s what everyone pays.”
Rebecca learned The PREP Framework™. She negotiated 5% commission with better service terms.
She saved thousands —money she needed for her fresh start.
4. Meet Aisha
Age 35. Married. Teacher. Detroit.
Aisha and her husband are under contract on their first home. They’re so excited.
Then the inspection came back: 47 issues.
The big ones add up to $12,000 in repairs. Her husband wants to walk away. She wants to negotiate but doesn’t want to seem “difficult” or “ungrateful.“
Coming from an immigrant family, she’s navigating systems that feel unfamiliar. She’s worried about offending the seller.
She almost let $12,000 go because she didn’t want to make waves.
Aisha learned The PREP Framework™. She negotiated $8,000 in repair credits using respectful, data-backed requests.
She kept the house and protected her investment.
5. Meet Maria
Age 37. Entrepreneur. Miami.
Maria runs a successful catering business. She’s ready to open her first restaurant.
She found the perfect location—but the numbers didn’t work.
Market-rate rent per square foot. Zero tenant improvement allowance. Full buildout costs on her. Banks were skeptical about lending to a woman-owned food business.
The landlord’s offer was clear: take it or leave it.
Everyone told her: “Commercial leases aren’t negotiable.”
She almost walked away.
Then she learned about leverage she didn’t know she had.
The space had been vacant for months. The landlord was facing carrying costs and planning renovations anyway. And Maria wasn’t a risky tenant—she was an anchor business with proven revenue in the same market.
Maria learned the PREP Framework™.
She negotiated rent significantly below the initial ask AND secured substantial tenant improvement allowances from the landlord—covering the majority of her buildout costs.
The landlord got a stable, creditworthy tenant. Maria got favorable terms that made her restaurant financially viable from day one.
Maria didn’t get lucky. She negotiated strategically.
Why These Stories Matter
Maybe you’re Maya—navigating affordable housing programs that feel stacked against you.
Maybe you’re Sarah—thinking homeownership is further away than it actually is.
Maybe you’re Rebecca—rebuilding your life and needing every dollar to work harder.
Maybe you’re Aisha—negotiating respectfully across cultural or systemic barriers.
Maybe you’re Maria—building a business and needing favorable terms to make it work.
Or maybe you’re all five of them at different points in your life.
These women represent over 2 million Section 8 voucher holders. Millions of first-time buyers. More than a third of all marriages. First-generation Americans. Over 40% of US businesses.
But they all have one thing in common:
They were told “this is just how it works” in real estate.
And they learned: No. Everything’s Negotiable™.
All five women used the same system:
P - Position: Understand your leverage (even when you think you don’t have any)
R - Research: Use market data to support your case
E - Exchange: Build rapport and offer value
P - Propose: Present your terms professionally
It’s not magic. It’s method.
And it works whether you’re negotiating rent, buying your first home, selling through divorce, handling inspection issues, or securing a commercial lease.
What’s Coming
Over the coming weeks, I’m going to tell you these women’s stories.
Maya - How a single mother with a Section 8 voucher negotiated with her landlord, saving hundreds of dollars on her monthly rent.
Sarah - How a first-time buyer won a bidding war by competing on terms instead of price.
Rebecca - How a divorcing woman negotiated real estate commission and maximized her proceeds during the hardest time of her life.
Coming soon: Aisha’s inspection negotiation. Maria’s commercial lease victory.
Reply to this email and tell me which story you need most. I read every response, and your answers will shape the content I create.
Your Action Step This Week
Think about which woman’s story resonates with you most.
Are you negotiating rent right now?
Trying to buy your first home?
Going through a divorce?
Under contract and facing inspection issues?
Starting a business and need commercial space?
Current Market Context
Here’s what you need to know about the market right now:
Mortgage Rates
30-Year Fixed: 6.06% ↓ (lowest level in over 3 years!)
15-Year Fixed: 5.38% ↓
What Happened Last Week:
Mortgage rates dropped below the 6.2% threshold for the first time since late 2022. The 30-year fixed rate fell to 6.06%—down from 6.16% the week prior and a full percentage point below last year’s 7.04%.
Market Impact:
Purchase applications jumped significantly as buyers respond to improved affordability. Refinance activity also increased as homeowners locked in lower rates. Housing activity is improving and positioning for a strong spring sales season.
Action Items:
If you’re like Sarah (first-time buyer): This is your window. Rates around 6% mean it’s time to stop waiting for 3% rates that may never return. Every week you wait could mean rates tick back up. Get pre-approved now.
If you’re like Maya (renting): While homeownership rates don’t directly affect your rent negotiation, your landlord’s mortgage costs do influence their flexibility. If they refinanced recently at lower rates, they have more room to negotiate with you.
If you’re like Maria (entrepreneur): Commercial mortgage rates typically follow residential trends. The downward momentum creates opportunity—lenders are competing for business right now.
If you’re like Rebecca (selling): Lower rates = more qualified buyers = better negotiating position for you. Spring market is heating up earlier than expected.
Launching Soon - The Offer: Everything’s Negotiable™
Click for early access - you’ll be first to know when we launch, plus early bird pricing and exclusive bonuses.
Eve Moss
Founder, Women + Real Estate™
womenplusrealestate.com
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Which woman’s story resonates with you most? Reply and tell me.
Your answer helps me understand what matters most to you—and shapes the content you see here.
Thank you for being here. Everything’s negotiable.
Disclaimer: The stories shared in this newsletter are based on real negotiation scenarios but are presented as composite characters with changed names and details to protect privacy. Content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or professional advice. Real estate laws and regulations vary by location. Consult qualified professionals before making real estate decisions. Section 8 policies, commission structures, and contract terms differ by jurisdiction. What worked in these examples may not apply in your situation. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Legal Notice: The PREP Framework™ and Everything’s Negotiable™ are trademarks of Chavah Media Ltd. | Women + Real Estate. All rights reserved.
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