Many folks drop out of the real estate market during the holidays, but this may be the best time to purchase a home.
Sellers often take their home off the market because they don’t want the hassle of having people through their home during this busy time of year. As supply drops off during the busy holiday season, sellers who remain have less competition.
Likewise, buyers who have the motivation to stay in the market during the holidays see a better chance of getting into a home because not as many people are house hunting between Halloween and New Year’s.
Builders also offer greater incentives during the last quarter of the year. Last winter, my clients had just moved from out of state and were renting. We found a new development that fit their needs and pocketbook. The builder wanted to close out the year and get any leftover inventory off the books by the end of the year. This was good news to my clients who saved $100,000 and got an interest rate below 5%.
When evaluating buying or selling in Q4, U.S. News and World Report says, “There are typically fewer buyers in the market, which gives you more negotiating power.” For sellers, the people who are looking at their home are serious. Check out the Pros and Cons courtesy of U.S. News & World Report: