When most people purchase a home, they do it for their convenience and the convenience of their family, especially if they have school-age children. If you purchase a house in the right season, it will make a big difference in the price that you pay for your house.
The sale and price of a house is lower at the beginning and the end of the year. Sales increase in the spring, peak in June or July and starts declining in the fall. The price decrease or increase is often determined by the weather, the holidays and school schedules. Parents with school age children try not to move during school months unless it is absolutely necessary. If a move takes place during inconvenience times, it sometimes happens because they had to move because of a job transfer, a divorce or some other problem that can't be helped.
Not many people want to move during the holidays because there's too much activities going on plus moving when there's bad weather isn't much fun. This is probably why most people tend to move during the summer when it's their vacation time.
The size of the housing inventory is often limited during off peak season, since sellers are also busy and it's hard to keep your house show ready during the busy holiday season. If you are flexible about timing, it can really work to the buyer's advantage to buy during the winter months Shopping out of season can sometimes gets you a better price on the property that you normally wouldn't be able to afford.
And don't just take my word for it... I recently came across this article on MSN too that talks about winter time buying advantages!
http://realestate.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=26601873>1=35006
December buying advice: A new home for the holidays?
Even if the weather is bleak, your home buying prospects may not be. Here are some of the reasons it might be a good time to buy, as well as the best and worst markets for the coming year.
By Melinda Fulmer of MSN Real Estate
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