The #1 Reason to List Your House in the Winter

By Keeping Current Articles November 4, 2019
Mom playing with daughter

The #1 Reason to List Your House in the Winter | Simplifying The Market

Many sellers believe spring is the best time to put their homes on the market because buyer demand traditionally increases at that time of year. What they don’t realize is if every homeowner believes the same thing, then that’s when they’ll have the most competition.

So, what’s the #1 reason to list your house in the winter? Less competition.

Housing supply traditionally shrinks at this time of year, so the choices buyers have will be limited. The chart below was created using the months supply of listings from the National Association of Realtors.The #1 Reason to List Your House in the Winter | Simplifying The MarketAs you can see, the ‘sweet spot’ to list your house for the most exposure naturally occurs in the late fall and winter months (November – January). 

Temperatures aren’t the only thing that heats up in the spring – so do listings!The #1 Reason to List Your House in the Winter | Simplifying The MarketIn 2018, listings increased from December to May. Don’t wait for these listings and the competition that comes with them to come to the market before you decide to list your house.

Added Bonus: Serious Buyers Are Out in the Winter

At this time of year, purchasers who are serious about buying a home will be in the marketplace. You and your family will not be bothered and inconvenienced by mere ‘lookers.’ The lookers are at the mall or online doing their holiday shopping.

 Bottom Line

If you’ve been debating whether or not to sell your house and are curious about market conditions in your area, let’s get together to determine the best time to list your house.

Content previously posted on Keeping Current Matters

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About the Author
Richard Wamsat
Richard Wamsat
Richard Wamsat is a Broker Associate and REALTOR with Coldwell Banker Realty in Irvine, California (CalDRE #01345167). Since 2002, Richard has represented clients throughout California in all price ranges, from first time homebuyers purchasing their first condo to seasoned investors buying and selling higher end properties. His current focus is on helping buyers and sellers in Orange County.

Richard bought his first home at nineteen and has worked in both Northern and Southern California markets, including the difficult years of the Great Recession when he negotiated with banks to help homeowners avoid foreclosure or get relief from underwater mortgages. That experience, combined with hundreds of successful closings since, gives his clients a practical understanding of how deals really get done in changing markets.

Committed to professional negotiation, Richard earned the Master Certified Negotiation Expert (MCNE) designation from the Real Estate Negotiation Institute, a member of the Harvard Program on Negotiation, along with additional credentials such as CNE, AHWD, CDPE, and SFR. Fewer than one percent of agents nationwide have achieved the MCNE designation, and Richard uses that training to structure offers, counteroffers, and terms that protect his clients’ interests without overpromising or relying on gimmicks.

Richard lives in Irvine with his wife, Brandy, and their fluffy white dog, Murphy. When you hire him, you get a calm, data driven advisor who takes the time to explain your options, walk you through the numbers, and help you make confident decisions about buying or selling a home in Orange County.