Blog posted On January 16, 2025
When most people think of the best season to buy a home, summer comes to mind. Likely, there’s an understandable reluctance to moving when there’s snow on the ground. However, is it not worse to move in 80-90 degree heat, with the sun beating down relentlessly while moving heavy boxes and furniture? In the colder season, moving will keep you warm, and you likely won’t be affected by the cold as much as you’d think. There’s also less competition to contend with and more time to work with your agent. And best of all, your negotiation power has much more weight in the winter. Still not convinced? Let’s walk through some of the perks of home buying this winter.
Boosted Negotiation Power
With a winter home purchase, there’s a higher probability that you’ll get a better deal on your future house. National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) reported that “median sales price of homes sold in January 2024 was about $28,000 lower than homes sold in April 2024.” If past trends continue, winter home buyers could potentially save tens of thousands of dollars versus those wait to buy in warmer seasons. Sellers are more willing to make a deal, giving buyers an upper hand.
No Rush!
As the old adage states, ‘slow and steady wins the race.’ You can take your time during your home buying process in winter months, getting to know your real estate agent better. Your agent can then provide more personalized support and individual attention to you during your search. This will allow them to assist with pricing, potentially negotiating the best deal for you. Summertime is a high-intensity season for buyers, sellers, and agents alike. Buying and closing a home during the mortgage off-season could put you well ahead of the game, all while moving at your own easy, leisurely pace. And once you do decide on your new home, your loan will likely close much faster!
Reduced Competition
Since summer is the popular choice for home buying, the number of buyers on the market is significantly reduced in the wintertime. You won’t be fighting tooth and nail for a modest home. Instead, you’ll likely get first dibs on your dream home! This benefit also reduces the stress of buying a home; you’ll rest easy as a potential homeowner knowing that the likelihood of getting caught up in a bidding war this season is minimal. You don’t just have to settle for any old home. The reduced competition will allow you to be more selective during your house hunting process.
Sweater Weather is Better Than Sweatier Weather
As we’ve mentioned, there seems to be a hesitancy to move into a new home in the winter. While there’s an understandable aversion to moving in the cold and snowy season, not all states have to endure the four seasons either. It’s also important to note that moving in the dead heat of summer is often a miserably hot time. At least with moving in the winter, the constant motion of moving boxes in and out of moving trucks will keep new homeowners warm and pleasantly toasty. And there’s no danger from fainting from heatstroke. We just hope you consider these seasonal perks of winter moving. Think of it this way: would you rather be covered in perspiration or a warm scarf and coat?
Are You Convinced?
We hope that the perks of winter home buying have shifted your opinion a little. Between the advantages of fast closings, full and undivided attention from your agent, less competitors, and potentially lower prices, it isn’t difficult to imagine why someone would hunt for a home in the mortgage off-season. Our loan processing teams are hard at work, no matter what season it is. If you’re interested in checking out the perks of winter home buying, feel free to reach out and set up a consultation! We’re happy to help, rain, snow, or shine.
Source: Ramsey Solutions, Realtor.com, National Association of REALTORS®
