The Advantages of Buying and Selling in the Off Season

Many people believe that buying or selling in the winter months puts them at a disadvantage. They may assume their listing will sit on the market and buyers may envision a limited selection of listings to view. However, savvy buyers and sellers know that the off season can be a great time to complete a real estate transaction!   

Advantages To Buying in the Off-Season

Attentive Service From Lenders - One of the greatest perks to buying in the off season is the enhanced service you will receive from lenders. During the peak season, lenders are busy. But during the slower months you will get a timelier response from your loan officer and underwriting.

Better Rates With Moving Companies - During the peak real estate season, it can even be a struggle to find a moving company that is available. Moving during the slower months will open up your options for what moving company to move with. You will be able to shop around for the highest-rated moving companies and take advantage of lower off-season fees.

Motivated Sellers - The biggest benefit to buying in the off season is the type of sellers on the market. People who list their homes in the slower months are often very motivated. They are typically working against a deadline and want to get their house sold. This can work in the buyer’s advantage when it comes time to negotiate. 

Advantages To Selling in the Off-Season

 Less Competition - Selling your house in the cooler months is a great strategy for lowering your competition. Markets across the country are already experiencing low inventory and in the winter it will likely reduce even more. Buyers are still extremely motivated to take advantage of historically low interest rates.

A Quicker Process - As your real estate expert, I am committed to providing the best service to you no matter the season. However, when things are slower, the transaction can move along at a quicker clip due to all the players being less-busy – from the lender to the closing agent, inspectors, and more!  

Serious Buyers - The off season typically yields more serious buyers than during the warmer months. It takes a little more effort to attend showings during the winter while contending with weather and lack of sunlight, and buyers aren’t going to go out of their way to look at a home that they aren’t really interested in. Off season buyers typically have a deadline they are up against such as relocating for a job or being settled in a home before the holidays. The cooler weather tends to weed out the buyers who are pretending to be on their own episode of House Hunters.

Now is a great time to list your house on the market or buy some real estate. Don’t let the myths of peak season keep you from accomplishing your real estate goals now. Take advantage of the benefits of a slower real estate season.

Source: https://cdn.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/ehs-08-2020-overview-2020-09-22.pdf