It’s that time of year for shopping, cooking, traveling and enjoying some time off with friends and family. Have you considered adding a new home to your letter to Santa? It may seem odd, even unlikely, but buying a home on Christmas Day can be a great move. Really?

Here’s why:

  • Typically,iIf a home is listed in December, especially around Christmas Day, the seller is serious.
  • Sellers are usually more open to accepting lower offers on Christmas Day
  • Home prices are usually at their lowest in December
  • The week before Christmas is a very slow time for home showings, and you won’t be competing against a lot offers
  • The holiday spirit is infectious and crosses over into negotiations (it's true!)

Most sellers probably have not considered it but you may find that Christmas Day is one of the best days of the year to buy a new home. If you just can’t get it together to add that to your list of holiday ‘to do’s’, then a little patience and the spring thaw brings the second best day of the year to buy a home – Easter Sunday.

Unlike the Christmas holiday, the market is at its peak in the spring, so you will be wheeling and dealing in the midst of a lot of competition. There are typically more homes for sale in the spring than any other season.

However, the action grinds to a halt on the first real holiday since New Year’s Day, and the savvy buyer who gets an offer in before things pick up on the Monday following Easter may find themselves the deal they have been waiting for. 

It may seem a little odd, but these two holidays can present the perfect opportunity for a serious home seller, an aggressive agent and a lucky buyer.  Happy Holidays!

 

/kh