You’ve worked hard to get your credit score in good shape, build your savings, and get pre-approved. Now, you’re ready to look for a home and finally bring those dreams to life, but you’re unsure when the purchase will happen.
Each season brings different factors to consider, like supply and demand, price, and weather. No matter the season you buy your dream home, this guide will help you know what to expect and consider.
When is the best time to buy a house?
Spring and Summer
As the weather heats up, so too does the housing market.
Thanks to the bustling market, you’ll have more options, but you’ll want to have a competitive offer when you find your dream home because of high competition. Spring and summer come with more expensive homes, and due to the high demand, there’s less room for negotiation. On the plus side, moving during nice weather is more manageable, and houses tend to show better.
Fall and Winter
As temperatures drop and days end quicker, real estate slows down, granting you more buying and decision-making power.
Though low demand creates less inventory and moving is more challenging with colder weather, sellers are eager, generating more negotiation opportunities and potentially lower costs. In addition, with fewer homebuyers, you can communicate with realtors much faster than in the spring and summer.
Year-Round Market Conditions
- Federal Rate Decisions: Though they don’t directly affect mortgage trends, they affect the overall economy, leading to mortgage trend changes.
- Economy: Lenders drive up interest rates when the economy thrives because there’s only so much capital to go around. On the other hand, mortgage rates drop when the economy slows because there’s not as much demand for home loans.
- Inflation: Rising inflation comes with higher interest rates. Because the dollar loses buying power when prices increase, lenders must find ways to make up for it.
If you’re looking for your dream home and need some assistance, get in touch with one of our mortgage lenders on our website, who are happy to help every step of the way.
