When we say “Cool Market”, we mean it literally. Selling your home during the cool weather months is a great time to sell! Too many home owners wait to list their home until the traditional prime selling season of Spring and early Summer. We are here to say that “those that wait” are missing a huge opportunity.
Think about it … people are still getting married, having children, getting older, changing jobs and lifestyles (just to mention a few). These changes cause people to move in, move out, right-size and buy homes…yes, year round.
Our home-sales data and experience shows, families buy homes in the Spring so that they can schedule moving during their children’s summer school breaks allowing for an easier transition. Good reason, huh? Well, everything changes and so are our public school system calendars with many states going to a year round curriculum. That means that Summer breaks are shorter and the Winter/Spring and Winter breaks are longer, creating two more selling seasons. Therefore, the Spring selling season for families may not be as prime any more.
My fellow Realtors and I are finding that the holidays are another prime selling season for not only families, with school age children, but also for new hires in the job market. Many corporations and small businesses are active in their the hiring process with the timeline of new hires, and those promoted, to begin their positions at the turn of the year. New Hires are serious Buyers.
So, list your home in the fall and take advantage of the beautiful holidays and decorate your home in its full glory. The sights, sounds and sents of the holiday season will engage buyer’s feelings of warmth and a sense of home. A great way to convert a showing into a sale!
We have heard this myth from Seller’s, ” Our house will sell for less in an off-season market”. Nope. Allow us to illustrate why this is a myth. It is true that inventory falls short in the cool weather months but the demand continues… your typical supply and demand model. So what happens? Any listed property will get noticed. We have noted that in our “searches” for homes, in certain categories, that over half of the listings are under contract. That tells us that if an existing home is priced right and prepared properly it will sell very quickly and very often with multiple offers. This lack of inventory also creates, what the housing industry calls, a “Sellers Market” giving the home-seller the financial advantage. However, Nashville metro area comps show that home sale prices are holding at the appraised market values. Nashville area home-sales data is also showing that list prices and sales prices are pretty much on the nose. We are not seeing the margins built-in the list prices for anticipated negotiation. Sellers, be realistic and smart about your listing price and you will see serious Buyers are your doorstep, any time of the year.