Think the holidays are a bad time to buy a home? Think again.
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In many ways, they can offer the best opportunities for homebuyers.
Less Competition
Most homebuyers don’t want to move during the holidays. It’s cold in much of the country, people are busy with holiday parties and shopping, and parents have to plan around school closures.
“The Christmas season is an excellent time to buy a home because the market naturally slows, leaving less competition among buyers,” explained Laura Adams, senior analyst at AceableAgent real estate exam prep.
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Motivated Sellers
Likewise, some sellers also withdraw from the market over the holidays. While that does decrease inventory, it can also reveal the most motivated sellers.
Darcie D. Gore, executive director at Chase Home Lending, noted that motivated sellers are more likely to negotiate discounts and seller concessions. “Sellers who list in the winter are usually serious about selling, so don’t be afraid to bid aggressively,” Gore said.
Historically Better Bargains
A 12-year study by ATTOM Data found that November and December saw the lowest home prices on average.
“Historically, as the winter holidays approach, the market slows down and prices often drop as sellers become more desperate to sell,” Gore said.
More Attention From Realtors
Real estate agents — who earn their living on commissions — can start feeling a little lean and desperate themselves around the holidays.
At a minimum, you should receive more attention from your buyer’s agent than you would in the peak spring and summer months. At best, even the listing agent can help convince the seller that your lowball offer is the best they’re likely to get anytime soon.
“Between highly motivated sellers and more personalized attention from real estate professionals during this slow period, buyers have a unique window of advantage,” explained Christy Bunce, president at New American Funding.
More Negotiable Loan Terms
You know who else earns their living on commissions? Mortgage loan officers. And the higher the interest rate and fees that they sell you on, the more they make.
In the lean Christmas season, you can often find a loan officer willing to take a lower commission on a lower-interest, lower-fee loan just to get it closed. So while you may play hardball with seller negotiations, don’t get shy with lender negotiations either. Often you can score a cheaper-than-market-rate mortgage by price shopping and pitting lenders against one another.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Why the Christmas Season Is a Great Time To Buy a Home
