Familiarity with terms like earnest money, contingencies, appraisal gap, and as-is clauses empowers buyers to negotiate favorable offers. For example, offering a higher earnest money deposit signals seriousness, while requesting appraisal contingencies safeguards price risks. Understanding jargon helps you spot risky terms and ask for clearer language or protections. Using precise real estate language builds seller trust and showcases professionalism, often leading to better deal leverage.