Wintertime in Real Estate

The weather has not done much to hinder our real estate market this year (best November ever!), and we are still selling lots of homes, resulting in smiling sellers who have netted great returns on their properties.  From starter homes on up to our luxury listings, we are seeing buyers come out to play in this market-It is a great time to buy!
Buyers are excited to buy, and yet when I speak with potential sellers they are consistently inclined to “wait ‘til Spring.”  What?  You mean, multiple offers, serious buyers and amazing interest rates are not motivating enough to consider taking advantage of the opportunity market we are still experiencing?  Well, I thought I would give you the short list of reasons you may want to consider putting the pedal to the metal in your moving plans 🙂

• Low Inventory=Less Competition! Since we have heard over and over again the old “I don’t want to sell in the Winter,” we understand that inventory is down in the cold months. This is due to the perception that the world stops because of the snow.  Opportunity! Less competition often equals a strong negotiation position for sellers in many of our markets (supply and demand, right?).
• Serious Buyers Are Looking! You are not going to bundle the kids up and trudge through snow to go house “shopping,” are you? No! Winter buyers are house buying.  They are not playing around, and due to relocation buyers and “I just sold my house this Fall and have no place to go” buyers, the Winter months present all kinds of opportunity for sellers who stay in the game through the Winter months (and you will have less of the “looky-loo” showings to deal with-Bonus!). Did you know there are over 133 homes selling a day this fall in the Twin Cities?
• Follow The Crowd? Many of the wealthiest people in the world, such as Warren Buffet and others alike, will tell you that when everyone else is running, they halt and when everyone else is halting they run.  Spring Market, while a wonderful time in real estate, is the trendy time to list.  We found that in the Spring of 2015, many of our clients who prepared early and were first on the market were the ones receiving multiple offers and higher net dollars than those who waited around until the end of Spring, when the inventory had spiked and many buyers had already bought.

What does this mean for YOUR move?  As I have mentioned, every price point and neighborhood is slightly unique and we would be happy to strategize with you ahead of time, so you can know all of the benefits and potential pitfalls of whatever time you choose to make your move.  Overall, the best time is the time that works best for your individual needs and your life.  Call today to get started, whether you are looking at taking advantage of the Winter market or Spring Market-Let’s work together to achieve success for YOU!

---