Winter: It’s A Great Time to List your Home

The headline last week on Washintonpost.com was Economy Marks a Milestone: Real Estate Returns.  I wonder how many people locally second that sentiment.

While I wouldn’t say it’s returned, it is certainly moving in the right direction, albeit slowly.  So with it moving in the right direction, you may ask if this is a good time to put your home on the market. 

Let’s go into this assuming you have done your individual due diligence regarding finances and costs associated with selling and buying, and have determined it makes financial sense to move.  Here are a few reasons why it IS a good time to list your home:

Less Competition

So many sellers wait to put their home on the market in the spring, which just means more competition.  List your home now and at the minimum you will have more agents touring your home. More agents through your home almost always results in more buyers.

Prices are rebounding, slowly

Prices are slowly starting to rebound, so you may be able to get a bit more for your home now than last year, although many factors come in to play.  (Just remember, if you are selling and buying you are trading in the same market…) However if you wait until the spring when you have more competition, buyers may be less likely to make an offer if there are other homes on the market with the same benefits are yours.

Mortgage rates

Mortgage rates are still low, very low. We keep saying rates can’t stay this low forever….

Every day, someone buys a home

Many sellers believe buyers only move during the summer months so as not to interrupt the school year.  This is simply not true.  Buyers come in all shapes and sizes, so obviously not all of them have school age children.   If a buyer does have school age children, they can almost always complete the year in their current school. Parents simply put their request in writing to the Principal and the Board of Education office.  (Parents assume the responsibility of transporting the child to/from school if they move outside of the district.)

So, what are you waiting for? For Sale signs look pretty in the winter. 

For more information, or questions regarding this post, please email Paula at paula.ostop@raveis.com