What is the best season for buying a home?
If you’re looking to buy a new home, it helps to know the best time of the year to do so. Each season brings its own advantages and disadvantages, and we’ll lay them out for you!
Your home will probably be the most expensive item you’ll ever buy. That’s why it’s of utmost importance that you time your purchase right and learn the best time of year to buy a home. Of course, market conditions, like mortgage rates and the general state of the economy, will significantly impact the price of your new home as well. Here are the best times of year to buy a home.
Winter
As the traditional slowest season for the real estate market, winter will generally bring the lowest prices on homes. As one of the few buyers on the market, you’ll also likely have an easier time negotiating a better deal with a seller. Finally, the professionals guiding you through the home-buying journey may be more available to work with you during this slower season, possibly making the process quicker.
Buying a home in the winter is not all fun and games, though. First, fewer homes for sale means slim pickings for you. If you’d like to have a wider selection of homes to choose from, winter may not be the best time for you to go house-hunting. Depending on the area of the country you live in, you’ll also be checking out homes and properties in less than ideal conditions. In addition, you’ll have fewer daylight hours to get a feel for the home’s true curb appeal and the amount of natural light that shines into it.
Late spring
The real estate market really blossoms in the spring. This is the time of year when you’ll see a large influx of new homes on the market. The warmer weather and longer days are ideal for scouting properties, inspecting roofs and exteriors of homes, as well as getting a feel for a community. You’ll also have a robust inventory of homes on the market to choose from.
However, shopping for a new home during the warmer months of the year means competing with many other shoppers who can be interested in the same homes you are. This can lead to higher prices, fierce bidding wars, and the inability to negotiate for a lower price. Lastly, realtors and title agencies can be swamped during this time of year and may have less time to work with you, resulting in a lengthier buying process.
Early summer
Early summer is peak real estate season in the U.S., and often sees the most homes sold out of the entire year. The weather is still warm and the days long, making for ideal home-shopping conditions.
Shopping for a home in the summer means shopping the homes that are left over from the influx of spring. You may have slimmer pickings, but sellers will also likely be more eager to sell before autumn and winter arrive.
"Whether you’re shopping in the dead of winter or the middle of summer, the best place to start is by contacting a Mortgage loan officer about getting pre-qualified. Getting pre-qualified lets Realtors and sellers know you've done your homework, and as a qualified buyer you'll have access to even more opportunities."
– Teresa Dahlgren, Everwise Mortgage Sales Manager.
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We hope this information helps you on your homebuying journey and encourages you to also explore our free, online home buying learning modules. You’ll learn more about the benefits and costs of buying and owning a home.
All information presented on this page is for educational purposes only and doesn’t constitute tax, legal, or accounting advice. It is to be considered as general information, not recommendations. Please consult with an attorney or tax professional for guidance.