It’s well known that Spring is the busiest season for home sales.
But just because Spring is a busier real estate season than the others doesn’t make it better for buyers. Buying a home in winter has its advantages, but also brings its own set of challenges.
Being aware of both the pros and cons of buying a home in winter might give you a leg up on the competition:
#1: Less Competition
As we jump into 2018, home prices are rising steadily (if not strongly) in most of the U.S. In 2017, nearly 25 percent of homes sold in a bidding war, pushing up prices further.
Pros. One of the best reasons to buy a home in the winter is there are fewer buyers looking, so there is inherently less competition for the homes that are listed for sale in your neighborhood.
Cons. On the other hand, sellers often wait until later in the Spring to list their home for sale. (The number of homes on the market is often referred to as the “housing inventory.”) Fewer homes listed means there will be fewer homes to see and choose from.
