I've observed the end of year real estate phenomena since 1996 and so far it has proven a reliable event.  Buyers that need to make a move but for unknown reasons haven't seem to come out of the woodwork when the traditional celebrations are over.

The decrease of real estate activity for this holiday season is more apparent every day.  If past trends apply, this decrease will continue until the 5 or 6 days before Christmas when it virtually bottoms out for the year.  But the day after Christmas the phones miraculously begin to ring again ... and email software begins chiming again marking a spike of activity that usually lasts well into January.

Since most agents find themselves with a little extra time on their hands I encourage them to plan ahead in preparation for this little serving of gravy that comes around every year.  Submit copy for print ads, schedule open houses and floor time, and take care of all the mundane chores that interfere with your face time in front of prospective clients.  It will get harder and harder to generate new business over the next three weeks.  But if you're ready you can reap a little early winter harvest and get a jump on the new year.