You’ve probably heard before that spring and summer are the prime times to pursue your next home purchase. But don’t discard winter just yet. Despite that the spring and summer can be more aesthetically pleasing in terms of house hunting, home shopping in the winter does have its advantages.
If home shopping in the winter is something you’re thinking about, consider these reasons why doing so may end up working to your benefit!
- You get to see the home’s true colors. Seeing a home in the winter can actually be a plus for the prospective buyer. Sure, the flowers won’t be blooming and there will not be leaves on the trees. It may even be cloudy and damp outside. But if you like a home when it’s at its worst, then you’ll surely like it when it’s at its best—which is what you’ll have to look forward to. You might even request to see photos of the home in the spring or summer to give you an idea of what you can expect. Viewing a potential home in the winter may also show you that it has more flaws than you thought, which may be masked in the optimism of spring.
- There will be less competition. Because winter is a less popular time to shop for a home than the spring/summer, you will likely have less competition to deal with. This means less of a chance that there will be multiple offers made on the home you are eyeing, essentially giving you more leverage to negotiate for a good deal.
- Prices are generally lower. That being said, simple supply and demand means that home prices are typically lower in the winter months. That’s because there are fewer buyers on the market.
- Sellers may give you a better deal. Tied in with the concept of supply and demand, sellers may be motivated to be more flexible in negotiating when it comes to home shopping in the winter. This flexibility could appear in terms of the selling price, closing costs, timeline or even the terms of the sale, for example. Winter in general is not the best time for sellers, but sometimes circumstances beyond their control, like a job change, prevent them from being picky about the time of year they move.
If home shopping in the winter works best for your plans, then don’t be afraid to get out there and do so! You may end up with a better outcome than you would have otherwise.
Shopping for a home in the Auburn, Opelika or Lake Martin areas this winter? Contact Realtor Ryan Roberts today! Call Ryan at 334-750-9872, or email [email protected]!
