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Nobody Buys a Home between Thanksgiving and Christmas: Bah Humbug!

removing mask Understandably, the already slowing housing market does get slower during December. People are packing the shopping malls, movie theaters and gathering around the hearth at home. However, there is a misguided conception that NOBODY BUYS A HOME BETWEEN THANKSGIVING AND CHRISTMAS!

You might even know Realtors who plan their vacations for the 4 weeks in December. Some start even earlier and for all intents and purposes stop working as soon as they take off their Halloween mask.

home sales during the holidays

Do homes sales slow down a bit during the holidays? Sure. So does almost every form of business except retail stores.

However, people buy homes just about every day of the year. Some hurry to purchase or sell their home so they can be settled just in time for the holidays. So to those who say "Nobody buys a home between Thanksgiving and Christmas," I'll emulate Dickens' most famous character and say "BAH HUMBUG!"

Homes sold in Northern Virginia from November 22, 2007 through December 24, 2007:

SOLD CONTRACT

Alexandria 133 81

Arlington 196 111

Fairfax County 875 599

Compare to the sales for the month leading up to Thanksgiving:

SOLD CONTRACT

Alexandria 163 142

Arlington 172 176

Fairfax County 893 917

Home sales in Northern Virginia were down, but not out.

happy new year

One week until New Year's celebrations. After buyers shake off their hangovers and forget the year that was, expect them to be out shopping for houses in full force in the new year.

CLICK HERE TO START YOUR SEARCH FOR A HOME

and/or

CLICK HERE TO INVITE ME TO YOUR NEW YEAR'S PARTY!

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Posted by Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate on 12/26/2007 07:42 PM

Comments (40)

2008, northern virginia real estate, northern virginia home sales, alexandria home sales, arlington home sales, homes sold in virginia

This post has been included in Virginia Information Alexandria City County, VA Information Alexandria, VA Information

40 Comments on Nobody Buys a Home between Thanksgiving and Christmas: Bah Humbug!

DEC

2007

Brian, excellent post and it has sparked an idea for me to post on. Thanks.

Brian - isn't if fun when conventional wisdom, or just plain old unthoughout cliche, is proved wrong?

best holiday wishes

Does election year have an impact on northern Virginia?

Sorry...beg to differ....our office slow during Nov. and picked up Dec. Go figure :)

Nice Market update Brian....a bit of fun too! Have a great 2008!

Haha best time if you ask me, showings are slower but those who do look are serious. I am working on 4 deals right now, just need to get them all accepted and to closing, but all came in the past two weeks so Mr. & Mrs. Seller yes dont miss out on the Holiday season.

Hello Brian, the holidays have traditionally always been a good time for me business wise. This year a bit slower. I have a feeling it will pick up in January! Happy Holidays and I wish for you a prosperous New Year!

DEC

2007

Brian - great numbers you have shown and hope this is a localism post as well. Buyers will buy when all the stars are lined up! The stars are lined up and it's time to buy 365 days a year! God Bless you in the New Year and may you enjoy great success and have a very prosperous year ever!

Great Point! As I reviewed clicks on website it is AMAZING how much activity there was over the last week! Not having a party - sorry.

Not true...not true...i have sold during the holidays and also put one in contract two days before Christmas and would have another done if it wasn't for my buyers taking more time looking for the right thing but it might happen soon so I have sold on holidays on a few occasions. My old manager in NY used to ask me to mind the store during the holidays and she said you might get one so I did and it Did. I have been working for the last two weeks just like normal so I can't complain.

Brian,

Unlike lawn equipment, patio furniture, and other seasonally affected products which are best bought 'in season', real estate's best buying opportunities occur in the off season-November thru February---less competition, more eager sellers, more time to decide...this is from over 35 years of market observation! Thanks, Fran

Brian, This may be a bit hard to believe, but my husband actually had a contract on one of his listings several years ago and, yes, the owners wanted it to be presented. He got home a little after 10 PM, Karen

My busiest month last year was December. The great thing about listings in December is that they look pretty- comfortable and homey. I serve sugar cookies and hot apple cider and buyers love it!

Hi Brian,

Christmas is an excellent time to list with less competition, neighborhood never looks better and sellers will meet the most motivated buyers. Who shops for homes at Christmas? Exactly, Motivated Buyers.

Brian, I put in a contract on Christmas Day for a client who wants to buy. We looked at home on Christmas Eve and then put the contract on Christmas Day.

DAVID: Thanks for your comment and compliment. I look forward to seeing your post.

GARY: Thanks for your comments. Conventional wisdom unfortunately is just that -- conventional. Those who succeed often use unconventional thinking!

DAVID: Election year most certainly does have an impact on our market. 2008 especially, since no matter who wins, there will be a complete administration change. The turnover every 4 years is one of the factors that keeps our market quite vibrant.

SALLY: Every market is different, of course. Some of the warmer climates, retirement and resort locations probably have a lot of business during December!

GARY: Thanks for your comment. It will be a great 2008! Hope you are having a great holiday season.

HEATHER: Good luck with all of your deals. There may be fewer buyers right now, but the ones that are there are serious about buying.

JEANEAN: I've already got quite a few new deals lining up for 2008. While this month has been a bit slower than usual, in the past I've sold homes in the days surrounding both Thanksgiving and Christmas. In 2007, I went with my clients to a home inspection on Jan. 2nd. Here's to a successful 2008!

CANDACE: Thanks for your comments. I'm sure that you'll have a great 2008 as well -- maybe the best ever! People do buy homes just about every day of the year.

ELEANOR: Yes, there's still quite a bit of activity during these last few weeks, though it is admittedly less this week during the holidays. Thanks for your comments and have a great new year.

NEAL: Glad to hear that you're keeping busy during the holidays. Florida is probably even busier during this time of the year, is it not? Lots of snowbirds looking for condos and retirement homes...

FRAN: I agree that the best buying opportunities are during this time of the year. When I bought my condo 5 years ago, we put the contract in during mid-December and during the seller's market frenzy were able to get a good deal at under asking price. Your comments definitely ring true here.

KAREN: I can believe that. Sometimes clients and buyers and sellers think that we work 24/7/365.

GINGER: I'd love to have some of your ginger cookies and hot apple cider. I might just have to stop by for an open house :)

PATRICK: Right on. You've got it down to a science.

STELLA: I'm happy to hear that you're keeping busy during the holidays.

Excellent point Brian. My business was a bit slow (as normal) until last week - when I picked up a (couple) of serious folks.

People DO move during the holidays! It may be a pain for them; but when you have kids out of school - it can sometimes be a good to switch schools.

DEC

2007

JAMES: Thanks for your comments. You are right, sometimes the holidays can be a good time to move Heck, when I moved 5 years ago it was literally in the middle of a snowstorm!

Brian - Great post! December has been my best month of the year!

DEC

2007

JOSEPH: Thanks for your comment. I'm glad to hear that you had a productive December.

Hi Brian, business has slowed for me in December, but like you said, I'm down but not out. I actually enjoyed the downtime a little.

SSSH don't tell everybody. December has always been a busy month for me. January slows a bit for me, but the pipeline remains full, and I have time to plan for 2008 (I run my fiscal budget from Feb-Feb, Accounting wise its odd, but my business wise it works for me).

DEC

2007

PEGGY: Thanks for your comment. Best wishes for a great 2008!

CHAD: Glad to hear that December has been busy. I know others who run their fiscal budget separately from the calendar year. How does that benefit you?

Here is how it benifits me. I deal with alot of investment properties. Alot of the properties my clients get are cheap but won based on the closing date. If the house is under contract before the end of the year, then the asset Company does not carry the inventory into the next year on their books. So come November it creates a rush for me. So Im used to 6-10 cloings/month, it then jumps to 10-18 closing per month. The paper work is alot more on bank owned, and the investors are buying, then throw in relocations, and sellers looking to prepare for the new year and ready to list after new year. It gets busy. Then keeping up with personal contacts and Holiday wishes, I don't have much time to focus on the budget and planning during the typical slow season.

So If I can reduce the stress of budget and business planning until after the rush and the Holidays, it's one less thing I have to do and stay focused on my ultimate goal, to sale houses. Thats really the only reason why I do it. Kind of like why most accountants never file their own taxes on April 15th, they get an extension because they are to busy to do their own.

CHAD: Thanks for the explanation. It makes perfect sense and I appreciate you coming back and taking the time to explain it to me.

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