When’s the Best Time to Buy and Sell Real Estate?

When’s the Best Time to Buy and Sell Real Estate?

You can buy and sell real estate anytime of the year. When is the best time of the year to buy and sell a home? To everything there is a season. The real estate market is no different. Any professional and experienced real estate agent will tell you that market conditions during certain times of the year are more favorable for buying or selling. There are four seasons in a year and every season has an impact on the real estate market. Moreover, presenting your property professionally is an important factor to improve curb appeal.

There are number of events in the year like thanksgiving, Christmas, Veteran’s Day, Mother’s Day and more. Both buyers and sellers remain busy during those events. So, in which season the buyers are in a good mood to go around and shop for their home. All these factors matter in real estate buy and sell. Read and find the best time to buy and sell real estate.

Understanding the real estate market “seasons” and the best times to make a move can help you make smarter investment decisions.

Is The Real Estate Market Seasonal? 

Yes. There are certain times of the year when the real estate market is at the pick, and other times of the year when it’s little dull season. As a general rule of thumb, December and January are quiet months for real estate buy and sell. March and April are the busiest months of the year for real estate buy and sell. There are many reasons why the market moves this way. Buyers usually ramp up their efforts to find a home in March and April, near the end of the school year. Search activity is also high in June and July. Best time to buy and sell real estate.

First Peak Season: Spring Bloom:

Selling your home? The biggest house selling season begins in late January and ends in early March. What makes it such a hot season? Families with children want to get their purchase or sale out of the way by late spring so that moving won’t disrupt the kid’s school schedule. Other people want to get it done early on in the year for tax purposes or to avoid interference with their summer vacation. Best time to buy and sell real estate.

Buying a home? – The selection during spring is booming, but so is the competition. If you are a bargain shopper, you may have to look a little harder & longer during spring, but don’t be discouraged. There are so many houses on the market that there is bound to be the perfect one to fit into your budget.

Second Peak Season: Fall for Motivated Sellers:

Selling a home? Selling in the Fall can be extremely risky. If you overprice your house, it won’t sell. However, if you need to sell during this season then just monitor buyer response. If response is low, be prepared to reduce your price. If you are a bit of a gambler, this season can work out for the best. It is the best time to sell high and buy low. Best time to buy and sell real estate.

Buying Property- Fall and Winter:

For buyers, fall and winter is the best time to score a good deal on property. Even in states where winters are warm, like Florida, Arizona and California, the fall and winter months are slower because kids are just getting started with the school year and the holidays are right around the corner.  People who sell during the fall tend to be in a rush to sell. Some bought new homes in the spring before selling their old ones. They slash their prices- finally getting realistic after wasting months of trying to sell at an overpriced amount. Many people want to sell during this season and buy a new home in December so that they can pay tax deductible expenses to reduce federal and state income taxes. These people are under a lot of pressure to sell. Best time to buy and sell real estate.

Best Time to Put Your Home in the Market: Spring Bloom

With all of these buyers in the market, it is no wonder that spring is the best time to put your house on the market. High sale prices result from spirited buyer competition. If you intend to buy another home after yours is sold, this time period has the best selection of homes to purchase. May, June, July and August account for 40% of home sales in an average year. Best time to buy and sell real estate.

Which is not the best season to put your home on the market: June, July and August

Selling your home? June, July and August – burnt out on summer sun. People that bought homes in the Spring are moving during the summer. Everyone else is either on summer vacation or out enjoying the summer sun. Why be indoors when you can play outside? This is not the best season to put your home on the market – although it is not the worst either. Houses usually take somewhat longer to sell due to a lower level of buying activity.

More Favorable time of the year to move: Spring Bloom

Parents usually prefer to have their kids finish out the school year before they move into a new home, especially if the children will be switching schools. The weather is also warmer in the spring, which makes it a more favorable time of year to move.

When the market is quiet: December and January

The market is typically quiet in December and January. Families prefer to stay put during the hectic holiday season, and the colder weather makes moving to a new home less desirable. September through December is usually a slow period for real estate across the country. Existing home sales fall by an average of 16% between August and October, and fall another 10% in November. Sales in the months of November through February account for about 27% of the average year’s total homes sales. Best time to buy and sell real estate.

When home sells lower- December and January

Lower Sellers usually prefer to wait until peak season to sell because they can expect to get around 3% than the annual average. Homes sold in December and January, on the other hand, usually close at 3% lower than the annual average.

Best day to put property on market: Thursday

If you want to be a little more specific, the best day to list your property is a Thursday. Putting the property up for sale on this day will make it available for weekend showings right away.

Regional Differences

Peak season varies, depending on the region of the country. In the Midwest, the peak of the season arrives in May – one month ahead of other parts of the country. But this region experiences even fewer sales from October through February. In the Northeast, the home-selling season doesn’t reach its peak until June and only lasts through August.

Wrap Up

While these are all great rules to know and follow, a savvy investor keeps a close eye on the market all year long. But having an understanding of the market’s ebbs and flows will help you know how to negotiate a deal depending on the time of year. Call top real estate agent in Los Angeles for the best time to buy and sell real estate. Please Call/Text Faruk Bhuiyan at (562) 213-8892 for a Free Consultation. Contact Us.