Homebuyers in the Bay State’s Cape Cod area paid close to 6 percent less than the asking price of a home earlier this year.

Buyers in the Cape Cod area paid about $24,391 less than the initial listing price, according to real estate Web site Zillow.com.

Nationwide, homebuyers paid a final sale price of 2.8 percent, or $5,823, less than the last listing price during January, up from a median discount of 2.7 percent in December and 2.6 percent in November.

December marked the first time in 11 months that buyers gained back negotiating power. For much of 2009, buyer discounts shrank as real estate markets across the country improved, according to Zillow.

In January 2009, buyers negotiated a median 4.5 percent, or $10,178 off the last listing price of homes.