There is a common misconception that the best time for anyone to sell their home in the Barrie area is in the spring. I’ve put together the following information: to show you how you can maximize your sale price by acting sooner, rather than later.

Reason #1: Less competition. My open-houses are seeing unusually high traffic this winter. Active buyers have outnumbered new listings in January and February. April through June usually sees an increase of up to 70% in the number of new homes hitting the market! This means more choice for buyers and more competition for you. Pre spring low inventory numbers means a greater likelihood of competing offers and increased potential for a higher sales price.

Reason #2: Only serious buyers look at this time of year. Winter months have a tendency to weed out the lookers from the serious buyers. People who are ready and willing to move don’t care if there is snow on the ground or that it gets dark early. Either by decision or circumstance,  they want to move now.

Reason #3: Mortgage Interest rates are predicted to rise in the latter part of 2013. Buyers are anxious to get settled before any possible rate increases occur. Increases in rates decrease the amount of mortgage a family can afford, cutting them out of certain price ranges. Buyers will be looking to maximize their purchasing power early in the year.

Reason #4: Relocation is surprisingly high this time of year. Companies are anxious to get new employees settled for the beginning of the year. Statistically, corporate relocations rise by up to 15% from November to March.

Reason #5: Current market stability. Right now, the market is perceived as stable, leading to greater consumer confidence in most Canadian markets including the Barrie region.

Reason #6: The perfect gift to yourself - a new home. Start the year off the best possible way in a new home for yourself and your family. By the time everyone else decides to list their home for sale, you will be moved in to a new comfortable space and summer will be left to enjoy.

To find out how to benefit from current market conditions, call Mike Montague for a personal consultation about your moving plans or email him at mike@gimmeshelter.ca