House Hunting in December
If you’re looking to purchase a home in December, then there are two important pieces of news that you should keep in mind. The good news is that the December housing market tends to favor buyers quite heavily: after all, relatively few people are looking to purchase homes during this time of year, so you will have far less competition, and will thus have a better chance of getting the home you like best at a price that you also like.
The bad news is that, because of the decreased amount of buyers on the market, some sellers also hold off, meaning your selection may be a bit less expansive and diverse as it might have been in the summer. Nonetheless, there are always options on the market, both through individual sellers and, perhaps more pertinently during down-seasons such as winter, through real estate and property companies such as Blue Marble Properties LLC.
Here are a few tips that can help you find the right home on the right budget.
- Shop Around. Of course, everyone’s reasons for shopping during the wintertime are going to be different, and if you have jumped into the market during the slow season there’s a chance that it is because you are hurried for one reason or another. But, if you do have the luxury of being a bit patient when it comes to finding your next home, that investment of time will likely pay dividends. As mentioned before, the one downside to home shopping during December is frequently the decreased amount of options, and taking a bit of time to shop can serve as a nice counterbalance to this problem.
- Remember that repairs may be difficult during winter months. If you are buying a house that needs work done, it’s worth considering that these updates may be especially difficult and especially costly during the winter notes. On a similar topic, move in may also be complicated a little. Of course, none of these obstacles are insurmountable, and they are part of what gives you, the buyer, and an advantage in terms of facing little competition. They are simply worth factoring in to your decision of how much you are willing to pay and what home best fits your needs and plans.
- Beware a lack of cosmetic maintenance. Look for advice on selling your home, either here on the Blue Marble Properties blog or elsewhere on the internet, and one of the first tips you will find is that sellers should perform cosmetic maintenance, because this offers substantial benefits both in terms of selling time and price. If the seller that you are considering hasn’t performed such maintenance, this could be a red flag. After all, such maintenance is relatively easy and offers concrete benefits: it is likely that someone who doesn’t bother to take care of such details also never bothered to take care of the house in manners that affect long-term durability and cost-effectiveness.
Continue your search for your next dream home right here at Blue Marble Properties with the help of our online property listings.