Shorewest Shares: Winter is a Great Time to House Hunt

Spring and early summer are traditionally known as the high season for home sales, while winter is often over looked. Winter can be a great time to buy a home, if you don’t mind fewer homes for sale and moving around the holidays. Real Estate does not hibernate from December through March. More than five million homes typically sell annually in the United States, with many of them listed and sold during the winter months.

Many home sellers wait until the peak season to list their homes, leaving fewer homes for sale in the winter. However, winter sellers usually have strong reasons to sell their homes soon and need to market it during winter months. Motivated home sellers are home buyer’s best friends.

While there are fewer homes to choose from, it is easier to view a handful of homes, instead of traipsing through 50. There are also fewer buyers, minimizing the risk of a bidding war. Winter is prime time for finding a good deal in the housing market. It also allows you to see how the home handles the cold. Did you feel cold while looking through the house? Does the heating system work? Are windows letting in drafts?

The low activity in the winter will result in sellers being more motivated to sell. Real estate agents know that the slow winter months are when sellers are more willing to negotiate, whether it’s on selling price, closing costs, closing date, etc.

Winter is a great time to list your home because it produces competitive results. It encourages potential buyers to get into the game sooner, getting a head start on the homes available AND securing a better price. Winter buyers aren’t “window shopping” — they are serious buyers, otherwise they wouldn’t trudge through the bad weather.

When you’re ready to begin you house hunt, contact a Shorewest Agent.

Tags: buying a home, Home Buying, Housing Market, living in milwaukee, Milwaukee, milwaukee lifestyle, real estate advice, real estate market, shorewest, Shorewest Realtors, tips and advice, Wisconsin, wisconsin real estate