Once Thanksgiving is over, the real estate world typically starts to wind down for the holidays and doesn’t usually reawaken until after New Year’s. But potential home buyers who are prepared to close in today’s competitive market may want to keep house hunting while everyone else is waiting for spring.
This article from UT San Diego explains that REALTORS® especially recommend that serious home buyers continue shopping if they have repeatedly lost out on deals because of a limited and continually decreasing supply of homes. Buying intensity typically cools down at the start of fall through early January, which could increase the odds for those with more patience.
Would-be buyers historically have bowed out during the winter season because they are overwhelmed by holiday spending and commitments. There’s also the aversion of moving in the middle of a school year. Consumer interest typically picks back up again in the New Year and peaks in the spring.
It is my experience that prices, statistically, go down at the end of the year. (pls refer to this past blog from June). This would be another reason in my opinion for not stopping a house hunting effort. - it is also true, from one of my recent blogs, that prices this year do not seem to abate as they did in previous years. I am afraid of what it may mean for the coming 2 or 3 months.
Thanks for reading!
Francis
Current Mortgage rates
Non-profit organization worth noting: Partners for New Generations.
