My Blog

The Winter Housing Market...

2/2/2023

8 Reasons to Buy Your First Home in the Winter

Whether you are moving into your first home or moving on to your dream home, shopping during the cold winter months can be a daunting experience. From traversing snow-clogged roads to checking out the landscaping in subzero temperatures, there are lots of things to dread about buying a home in the winter.

And while that may be true, there are plenty of reasons to love the season as well. If you are ready to buy a home, you just might find winter to be the perfect time. Here are eight great reasons to buy your next home in the winter. 

  1. Less competition – The fact that winter is an unpopular time to buy a home can work in your favor. With less competition, you can drive a harder bargain, making your first-time buyer dollars stretch farther. 
  2. More time with your real estate agent – Real estate agents tend to be less busy in the cold winter months, and that could mean more time with your agent. You can use that time to lay out your requirements, making finding the perfect home easier. 
  3. Cheaper moves – Moving companies also tend to be less in demand during the winter, and that could mean a less expensive move when the time comes. 
  4. Holiday sales on home décor – The holiday season is a great time to buy home décor and furniture, especially if you are shopping for your first home. Reducing the cost of home furnishings will be even more important now that you have a monthly mortgage payment to make. 
  5. Motivated sellers – Homeowners with properties to sell may be more motivated as the cold weather months drag on, and that could be good news for you as a first-time buyer. 
  6. Vital information on road maintenance – Some neighborhoods are better at clearing ice and snow than others, and shopping in the winter can be a very enlightening experience. When you need to get to work, you want to know local road crews are up to the task. 
  7. Faster closing times – Time-to-closing tends to be faster in the winter, simply because there are fewer buyers competing for those limited resources. If you need to move fast, winter could be the perfect time to shop. 
  8. An inside look at hidden damage – Some problems, like clogged gutters or leaking roofs, may be easier to spot when there is ice and snow on the ground. The ability to uncover that hidden damage could net you a lower price – or stop you from making a costly mistake. 

Buying a home during the winter months can be challenging, but there is a lot to love about this time of year. From enhanced bargaining power to more motivated sellers, buying a home in the cold winter months has its perks, including the eight big benefits outlined above.

Winter clothes with coffee cup on window ledge winter snow outside

Seamless Selling

6/18/2015

I recently had the pleasure of working with one of the best sellers ever.  She did everything right, start to finish (and it didn't hurt that her home was absolutely lovely).  Frankly, the process was enjoyable for everyone involved.  The following, are a few of the protocols we had in place to ensure a smooth transaction.

Professional photography is the way to go.  When you have a nice property, nothing detracts from it's loveliness more than icky, iPhone photos.  We can all tell.  As a realtor, this is a cost I am more than happy to pay, because the rewards are outstanding.  Your property looks great, your seller feels proud when they see their professional listing.  And prospective buyers are intrigued when they see beautiful photos online.  Totally worth it.  

Hiring a professional home stager is so helpful.  Another cost I bear, that is completely worth it.  Clutter is removed, things are shifted around and artfully displayed, and the house transforms into a model home.  

 

 

 

From the get-go, my seller had very reasonable expectations with respect to price.  In fact, though I take a conservative approach to pricing, my BPO research, along with intuition came in higher than she anticipated.  We went with it, and secured a full-price offer in the first day.

This experience has solidified the fact that having the right people on your team can make all the difference.  If you are considering selling but are on the fence, take the time to talk to a realtor (preferably ME).  See what things they plan to do to market the home; to ensure it looks its very best.  Home buying and selling can be daunting, but with the right protocols in place, it can be an exciting and uplifting experience for all parties involved.   

 

 

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