While spring and summer are traditionally the times when people look to buy a home, there are many reasons why some buyers don’t begin their search until the warm weather subsides and the leaves start to fall from the trees.
The following are some of the benefits to keep in mind if you’re considering looking for a home during the fall and winter months:
- Off-Season Home Listings = More Motivated Sellers: As mentioned previously, spring and summer months are the traditional home buying seasons. If a buyer has their home on the market during the fall or winter, it usually means that they’re very motivated to sell. Most industry professionals will tell you that motivated sellers are open to negotiating on price, which is a great thing from the home buyer’s perspective.
- Bad Weather Makes For A Great Home Inspector: Even the most thorough home inspection won’t catch every leaky roof or draft. Visiting a home during less than ideal weather conditions can help you detect things that you may not see during the summer. Are there water stains on the ceiling from a recent storm? How’s the drainage surrounding the property? Does the house simply feel cold? These are things you may not discover about a home unless you’re inside it when a storm comes around. If you catch them before you buy, you have room to negotiate with the seller on their asking price or have them fix it as a part of the sale.
- Buyers Can Receive Extra Attention From Realtors®: Realtors often provide an invaluable resource for home buyers. Since there are fewer buyers looking at homes during the fall and winter, there are usually more Realtors eager to assist you in your home shopping process.
While home owners who put their properties on the market in the fall and winter are eager to sell, that doesn’t mean that they are eager to wait around for buyers. Speed matters when it comes to home buying and the best way to ensure that you’re ready to move on a home purchase quickly is to be pre-approved by a mortgage lender. Being pre-approved will also show Realtors and sellers that you’re taking the home buying process seriously and not just window shopping. Many Realtors and buyers will want to know that a reputable mortgage lender has pre-approved you for a loan before even showing you a home.
If you’re interested in speaking with a Homebridge mortgage professional or looking to discuss the pre-approval process, you can find a list of our offices nationwide by clicking here.