And it makes sense, doesn\u2019t it? Come spring, chilly temperatures are giving way to warmer days, flowers are beginning to bloom, and enticing shades of green are edging back into foliage. Well-groomed homes look great this time of year, and sellers don\u2019t have to worry about potential buyers<\/a> traipsing snow and slush through their living rooms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n HomeLight can connect you with top agents in your selected market. Whether you\u2019re buying or selling, we analyze over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to determine which agent is best for you based on your needs.<\/p>\n \n Of course, it\u2019s not just sellers who wait for springtime to make a move. Buyers are equally motivated<\/a> this time of year \u2014 and that can make things tricky.<\/p>\n There are very real pros and cons to buying a house in spring, so let\u2019s take a closer look at what it means to enter the real estate market in the season of renewal.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause so many people do like to shop for homes in the spring, there tends to be more competition,\u201d cautions Taylor. \u201cYou can find yourself more likely to get into a multiple offer<\/a> situation in the springtime, depending on where you live.\u201d<\/p>\n When multiple offers are at play, buyers have less negotiating power.<\/p>\n \u201cIf sellers are less likely to negotiate, then you\u2019re going to have less time to make decisions. Potentially you\u2019re going to have to pay more of your closing costs<\/a> than other times of the year \u2014 as just one example. Increased competition brings these types of situations to the plate,\u201d says Taylor.<\/p>\n Aside from limiting your ability to negotiate for the seller to cover a portion (or all) of your closing costs, other scenarios that can arise when buyers are competing for homes include:<\/p>\n Melanie Hartmann, owner of Creo Home Buyers<\/a> in Maryland, echoes Taylor\u2019s sentiments.<\/p>\n \u201cSpring can be a difficult time to buy, because just as there are more sellers, there are many more buyers, too. This can lead to more offers being submitted and driving up the purchase price of homes.\u201d<\/p>\n While more buyers can offer increased opportunity for sellers to be strategic, two can play this game.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you were to ask anybody in my line of business, they would say that spring is the best time to buy real estate,\u201d says Doug Greene, owner of Signature Properties<\/a> in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n Greene buys and sells homes throughout the year, and he\u2019s well aware of the advantages that can come with buying a house in the spring. \u201cWith warmer temperatures and spring cleaning, we definitely see a lot more inventory and activity hitting the market around the beginning of April. People want to sell their homes before summer hits so they can enjoy the warm weather.\u201d<\/p>\n This means that, for all the extra market activity and open houses, sellers are still motivated to move their homes \u2014 especially those who have been waiting through the dreary winter months. But weather is also where buyers can gain an extra advantage as they shop.<\/p>\n \u201cSpring is typically a rainy season, which can magnify any shortcomings or deficiencies with a property,\u201d Greene says. \u201cWater is the number one enemy<\/a> of a home as it can lead to rot, mold, mildew, and various other types of problems.\u201d<\/p>\n As a buyer, dealing with rain \u2014 and the wet shoes and umbrellas that accompany it \u2014 may not sound like such a great opportunity. But just as nice spring weather can help a seller better showcase their home, a rainy spring day can better help you<\/i> evaluate that same house.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s never a bad thing to look for homes after it\u2019s been raining,\u201d says Taylor, who tells her buyer clients that they\u2019re actually lucking out if they\u2019re looking at a house in the rain, \u201cbecause it can really show you if there are any potential issues you need to be aware of.\u201d<\/p>\n Look for telltale signs like leaks, drips, pooling water, or unexpected condensation that may indicate a problem with water.<\/p>\n Planning tip:<\/i><\/b> As you make homebuying plans, check out HomeLight\u2019s helpful <\/i>Home Affordability<\/i><\/a> and <\/i>Down Payment<\/i><\/a> calculators.<\/i><\/p>\n The thing with buying a house is that it\u2019s rarely just a matter of handing over a wad of cash and calling it a day. As a homebuyer, you\u2019ll probably need help from a variety of different service providers, such as:<\/p>\n Not to mention the experienced real estate agent<\/a> helping you find your perfect home in the first place! Since springtime is such a busy season in real estate, it\u2019s not uncommon for relevant professionals to have a busy schedule and thus create longer wait times for anxious buyers.<\/p>\n According to Taylor, though, you shouldn\u2019t see this possibility as too big of a roadblock.<\/p>\n \u201cIt might be a little more challenging depending on how busy the market is, but I think you can find the help you need when you need it,\u201d she says. \u201cWhen you\u2019re working with a solid agent, they\u2019re going to have a great network and they\u2019re going to be able to introduce you to the people who you need.\u201d<\/p>\n Agent search tip:<\/i><\/b> HomeLight<\/i><\/a> can connect you with top agents in your selected market. Whether you\u2019re buying or selling, we analyze over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to determine which agent is best for you based on your needs.<\/i><\/p>\n While tax time isn\u2019t exactly a highlight for many of us, if you\u2019re expecting a refund, this influx of cash can be helpful when buying a house in the springtime.<\/p>\n \u201cYour tax refund could be used toward closing costs, or even put directly toward your purchase,\u201d says Taylor. \u201cEspecially in an environment where there\u2019s extra competition, having those extra funds can certainly be an advantage.\u201d<\/p>\n Be sure to talk to your loan officer or your tax advisor (or both) to discuss your options \u2014 and what benefits may be available to your homebuying pursuits \u2014 if you\u2019re expecting a refund this year.<\/p>\n If you have children involved in public education, buying a house and moving in the spring might mean relocating your family during the school year. However, it typically takes up to 45 days<\/a> to complete the buying process, so a late spring closing can work to your advantage if you time it right.<\/p>\n With everything else your children are adjusting to with the move<\/a>, as spring settles in, they will likely not be standing at the bus stop or walking to school in the freezing cold and snow.<\/p>\n Moving companies are likely to be busier in the spring, which can mean higher rates. The same may hold true for other services you might need. Like other industries, off-season winter rates often come with a discount. According to move.org, the cheapest time of year<\/a> to move is from Labor Day in September to April.<\/p>\n While you may not get the discount rate for a moving truck or movers, springtime is a much easier time to relocate. Nicer weather and clearer roads can reduce the stress of moving, as well as allow you to avoid tracking snow into your newly-purchased home.<\/p>\n We all love a springtime moment, but this doesn\u2019t have to be your priority season to buy a house.<\/p>\n \u201cFall in our area is a fantastic time to buy,\u201d says Taylor. \u201cSpring may be \u2018the best\u2019 time to buy depending on your personal circumstances, but if you have limited funds, if you\u2019re not really going to be able to compete in a highly competitive environment, it may be better \u2014 if you\u2019re able to wait \u2014 to buy at a different time of year.\u201d<\/p>\n In her Virginia market, Taylor says autumn is a close second to spring. People are back from summer vacations, the leaves are changing, and there\u2019s incentive on both sides \u2014 buyer and seller \u2014 to get settled before the holidays.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the fall, at least in our area, is the second-best time of the year to look for a house,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n On the other hand, Hartmann argues that winter is a prime time to buy.<\/p>\n \u201cWinter is the most underrated time to buy a home. There are far fewer buyers, so competition may not be quite as high. Inventory will likely be lower in the winter, so you may still have competing offers, but sellers listing their home for sale in the winter may be more motivated to sell and thus may take a lower offer in order to sell quickly,\u201d Hartmann explains.<\/p>\n Greene agrees that winter can be a favorable time for buyers.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the late fall and long winter seasons, you can scoop up some of the best deals as a buyer,\u201d he argues. \u201cEveryone has stopped looking by then, and many sellers who are still listed are usually the ones who need \u2014 rather than want \u2014 to sell.\u201d<\/p>\n Greene says that his homebuying team isn\u2019t shy about making lower offers and negotiating in the winter, feeling that they have more leverage in the absence of other buyers.<\/p>\n \u201cI would argue that any kind of home buyer; whether first-time, investor, or whomever, would fare better during the winter than spring if they can have a little more patience and not be afraid to move on a deal when everyone else has stopped looking.\u201d<\/p>\n Timing tip:<\/i><\/b> If you\u2019re making plans to sell and buy, check out HomeLight\u2019s <\/i>Best Time to Sell Calculator<\/i><\/a>. This free tool uses housing market data from your area to suggest the best and worst months to sell your home.<\/i><\/p>\n At the end of the day, if you\u2019re ready to buy<\/a> a home, the calendar should serve only as a reference point \u2014 not the final answer on when to pursue the real estate market.<\/p>\n![\"homelight](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/ccprototypev5\/images\/logo-small-cta.png\"){kind=logo}
\n <\/div>\n \n Find a Top Buyer's Agent for All Seasons<\/h3>\n
Con: Expect competition and higher prices<\/h2>\n
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Pro: April showers bring May flowers \u2014 and open houses<\/h2>\n
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It might be a little more challenging depending on how busy the market is, but I think you can find the help you need when you need it. When you’re working with a solid agent, they’re going to have a great network and they’re going to be able to introduce you to the people who you need.<\/q>\n <\/blockquote>\n <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/section>\n
Con: Everyone\u2019s busy when you need them most<\/h2>\n
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Pro: You can put your tax refund to work<\/h2>\n
Con: Kids may still be in school<\/h2>\n
Pro: Less weather for schoolchildren<\/h2>\n
Con: Moving costs may be higher<\/h2>\n
Pro: Easier to move in nicer weather<\/h2>\n
Homebuying reasons for the other seasons<\/h2>\n
Fall<\/h3>\n
Winter<\/h3>\n
Spring, summer, winter, fall: It\u2019s your call<\/h2>\n