Home Search Party: How to Find the Right House During the Winter Months

Written by Posted On Thursday, 15 December 2016 09:49

Finding the right house during the winter months is not as difficult as it appears. Although the spring and summer are the peak buying and selling seasons, the winter months can actually bring deep discounts to those who are willing to endure the cold weather. Here are some reasons why the winter months are a great time to find and buy the right house.

Motivated Sellers
The winter months often bring more motivated sellers to the market. Since spring and summer are the peak real estate seasons, sellers during the winter months are eager to unload their properties. There are far fewer buyers during winter, especially in locations that experience harsh weather conditions. Sellers who list their properties during the winter usually want to unload their properties fast to avoid incurring any further expenses. This can mean lower prices for patient buyers who are actively searching for homes to buy during the winter.

A Unique Vantage Point
Buyers during the winter months receive a unique vantage point when they are viewing homes. The winter months exposes a home’s ability to withstand extreme weather conditions. Therefore, buyers can see the true condition of the homes critical components, such as the heating system, windows, roof plumbing and insulation. If the home has any deficiencies in any of those components, buyers can negotiate an even lower price with motivated sellers.

Availability of Real Estate Professionals
Since the summer and winter months are the busiest time of year for real estate professionals in many locations, the availability of real estate professionals such as those at
Central Virginia Realty is higher during the winter months. Buyers can spend more time with their real estate brokers and get to know them on a personal and professional level. Once buyers build a relationship with their brokers, they can both concentrate their efforts on finding the right house.

Eliminating the Hassle of Bidding Wars
Since there are fewer buyers during the winter months, there are fewer bidding wars. Although the availability of inventory during winter is less than spring and summer, buyers can expect to face very little competition if they find the right home. With less competition, buyers can structure their bids based on the knowledge that their bid may be the only bid.

The winter real estate months present a golden opportunity for potential home buyers. There is less competition, a greater availability of real estate professionals and the potential of finding motivated sellers willing to negotiate. There is nothing harsh about buying a house during the cold winter months.

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Lizzie Weakley

 About the Author: Lizzie Weakley is a freelance writer from Columbus, Ohio. She went to college at The Ohio State University where she studied communications. In her free time, she enjoys the outdoors and long walks in the park with her 3-year-old husky Snowball.

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