Even if the weather is bleak, your homebuying prospects may not be. Here are some of the reasons it might be a good time to buy, as well as the best and worst markets for the coming year.
The weather outside may be frightful, but that doesn't mean home shopping at this busy time has to be. True, fewer homes are on the market around the holidays as sellers take some time off to enjoy the season with their family. And fewer open houses are held during the often freezing, messy weather.
But shopping for a home at this overlooked time of year has a few perks, says Dorcas Helfant-Browning, CEO and principal broker with Coldwell Banker Professional in Virginia Beach, Va., and a past president of the National Association of Realtors.
- Sellers who keep their homes on the market at this time are very motivated.
- You have less competition from other buyers than you would in the spring.
- Lenders, agents and others have more time to work with you.
- Interest rates are typically lower than in the spring.
And best of all, she says, although moving during the dead of winter might not be so pleasant, relaxing on the patio of your completely unpacked home when the weather warms up is priceless.
"Get it over with when there's nothing else to do and then enjoy your spring and summer," Helfant-Browning says.
Read More at MSN December Buying Advice
