Home Buying in Winter
NEW YORK (MainStreet) — So what if winter’s looming. Go ahead, buy a home!
Granted, buying a home in the dead months from December though March does not appeal to many people. But this year it might make sense, due to low mortgage rates and a lull in home price gains. A home on the market now might cost more in the spring as prices and loan rates drift up.
The problem, of course, is that homes don’t show very well in the winter, especially in the northern states. You don’t get a good view of the garden, and the interior can seem drab with no flashes of color out thewindows. Winter is bleak, and many buyers, sellers and real estate agents turn their attention to the holidays.
For many buyers, a winter purchase is also inconvenient. Families with children often prefer to move during the summer school break, and all the hassle and bustle of moving is easier when the days are long and you don’t need a heavy coat every time you step outdoors. Spring, therefore, is the peak selling season.
But there’s something to be said for winter. There tend to be fewer buyers out there, so less chance of facing a competing bid. Sellers and agents know it’s a slow time of year, so they might be more accommodating on price and other terms.
Also, once you buy, you’ll be enduring many winters in the home anyway, so you might as well see what they’ll be like. Do the leafless trees expose the neighbor’s junky yard? Is the kitchen just too dark in the morning? If so, you want to know. And if a home is pleasing in January, it’s sure to be great in June.