By admin1
A question I get asked all the time is: Should I sell my home now or wait for the spring of 2026?
That’s a great question, and in my experience as a real estate agent since 1991, I feel that now is the perfect time to come on the market.
Why should I sell my home now?
Selling now has major benefits because there is significantly less inventory during this time and the coming few months than there will be as we approach the spring market. Most consumers think spring is the best time to sell, so most wait to list their homes. For sellers, this just means more competition. When there are more homes for buyers to choose from, inevitably, sellers lose the upper hand.
If you are okay with your home being shown during the holiday season, it offers a warm, inviting, slightly emotional ambiance. For some buyers, this is the perfect stage for choosing just the right place to call home. Buying a home is already somewhat of an emotional decision. Add the magic of the holiday season, and you have a great opportunity for home buyers to shop.
Some homebuyers and investors will want to close before the end of the year for tax purposes. If this is the case and you don’t want to move during the holidays, you can coordinate a closing and possession date that works for you and your family.
What if my home doesn’t sell during the holiday season?
That’s also something many homeowners ponder during this time, especially when the area experiences winter months. In many locations, the winter weather is a hindrance to moving.
Yet, buyers see the limited competition due to the weather as a benefit. For sellers, they’ll find strong buyers who are serious about purchasing a home. Sellers on the market during the first few months of the year position themselves as one of the few homes for buyers to choose from.
If your home didn’t sell during the holiday season, don’t fear. The first of the year brings several factors that impact the housing market and can even help to stimulate activity.
A fresh year often comes with job transfers to new locations, which will require a new house!
Additionally, the very end or beginning of the year is when many get raises and promotions at work. This, along with finding out how much money they will have to pay or will be getting back from tax returns, also helps to simulate the market during the first few months of the year.
During this time of year, buyers tend to have a little more time to look at homes with a slow down in social schedules after the holidays. In addition, buyers have more flexibility since they don’t need to do all the outdoor chores that come with the spring season.
If you’re thinking of listing, selling your home now may have you pocket a little more money as well, since you will be one of the few homes for buyers to choose from. You may also be able to negotiate better terms.
What if I need to sell and buy a home?
If you are going to sell a home and purchase a new home, you are in a strong position. Sellers and buyers in the winter months tend to be serious and willing to be flexible so that the deal goes through.
While it can add stress to a busy time of year, you can also find a gem of a home at a reasonable price. Depending on the type of home that you’re selling and buying, you may be able to negotiate in your favor on both homes.
Over the years, I have always been surprised by the number of homes we’ve sold during this time of year. Once, we even sold a home on Christmas Eve. What a Christmas present, right?
If you choose to wait until after the holidays to sell your home, consider getting a jump start on the spring market by listing in January or February. Get a head start on all the inventory that inevitably comes with the spring market.
I always tell my sellers you can’t sell without being for sale. There is never really a bad time to sell, as there are always people who need to move for life-changing events that are inevitable, like new marriages, new babies, job transfers, divorces, and downsizing.
When should I sell my home?
Selling a home can happen at any time of the year. The primary keys to selling are as they’ve always been: price, condition, availability, and location!
Talk to a FastExpert real estate agent about the possibility of selling your home now. Determine your home’s selling potential. Talk about competition, home prices, and average days on market. You may find that now is the perfect time to sell!
