Why Buy or Sell this Winter

Real estate is known for cooling down each winter, but there are many benefits to buying or selling during the winter month, including more serious buyers and less competition. If you’re considering making a move in 2022, you may not need to push it off until next spring!  

Reasons to Buy or Sell

1.  While it might feel like the off-season, the internet never takes a break! Today, most buyers go online to search for homes or even buy their homes virtually! In 2021, I helped clients purchase a home using facetime, and they bought the house without even stepping foot inside (read more here).

2.  Less competition, this is for both buyers and sellers. Inventory typically drops during the winter months, and so does the number of people searching for a home. So for buyers, you may be competing against fewer offers, and sellers with have more serious buyers looking.

3.  Buyers mean business in the winter. During the colder, rainier months, fewer people browse new homes. Those who schedule a tour or stop by an open house are typically more serious buyers.

4.  Winter home buyers may also be motivated to capture the tax benefits of buying a home before year-end. Homebuyers can write off some of the expenses of their home purchase on their taxes. There are usually multiple tax benefits of owning a home they can take advantage of. All of these tax benefits could make a potential home buyer want to get a house bought and closed before the new year. And if you’re selling your home and buying another, you could ring in the new year with more tax breaks too!

Tips for Selling

Nothing says welcome home quite like walking out of the cold into a nice, warm house. It’s easier to make a house feel like home in the wintertime. Here are a few tips to help you set the buying mood:

·  Keep it simple. If you’re selling around a holiday and have decorations up, make sure they accent—not overpower—a room. Less is more.

·  Crank up the cozy. Light a fire in the hearth, play soft holiday music in the background!

·  Shine a light outside. Winter days get dark early. Brighten your home’s exterior with outdoor spotlights. So buyers can get a feel for the outside amenities.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions about the home buying process or want to discuss if now is the right time for you to sell.