The aspens have shed their golden leaves, there’s snow on Pagosa Peak, and we’re already imagining that Thanksgiving meal. So, why is the time between Turkey Day and Christmas a fantastic time to buy a home? Less competition, great bargains and motivated sellers.
Because there are fewer buyers looking to buy during the winter months, your offer is more likely to be accepted, not topped by another competitive buyer. This doesn’t mean that you should offer drastically less than the listing price, however. Sometimes that advertised price is a heck of a deal in itself.
Let’s face it, shoveling the walk and plowing the driveway are chores very few of us actually enjoy. It’s not so easy to have your home in pristine condition when snow has covered your carefully planted shrubs and manicured lawn. Even so, if a seller is willing to show their home during the dead of winter, you may just find a jewel buried under that white stuff! Ask your Realtor if there are photos of the home taken during the summer months to give you an idea of what to expect after buying.
Listings on the market in the winter months fall into one of two categories: One, the home has been on the market for a while and didn’t sell during the summer of autumn, or two, the home has been recently listed, indicating that the sellers are motivated. Either way, it’s a great time to shop for a home.