After five years of sizzling growth, U.S. home price appreciation is showing signs of cooling.

Pending home sales — a leading market indicator — are down from a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors.  In many of the nation's hottest markets, brokers also are reporting a growing gap between sellers' asking prices and what purchasers are willing to pay.

For prospective home buyers, the market shift provides a chance to remaster an old negotiating tactic: the art of the lowball offer.  Strategies for securing a below-market price vary by locality. In any region, however, experts say bargain-hunting buyers can close favorable deals by applying a few basic principles, and by always using an Exclusive Buyer's Broker to help them negotiate the best possible price.

Read more on this story….