Why Selling Your Home Before Spring is a Smart Move

According to Punxsutawney Phil, spring is supposed to come early this year and if we assume that the weather is always a bit more mild here in the South, it’s probably a good possibility; however, if you’re planning on marketing your home during March or April, there’s actually something to be said for getting it ready while winter is still upon us.

1.) DEMAND IS CURRENTLY STRONG – The latest foot traffic numbers for 2015 actually show that there are more prospective buyers searching for homes at the current moment than at any other time during the last 12 months—to include last spring. So, what does this mean for you? Whether the demand for housing will only increase within the next few months is somewhat irrelevant if you consider that your odds are great right now. Take advantage of buyer activity as it’s happening instead of relying on an ambiguous market schedule.

2.) LESS COMPETITION WITH OTHER SELLERS – With the increase in property values over the last year, many once-underwater homeowners are finding themselves with positive equity, which will likely lead to an influx of houses on the market during the spring season. Additionally, if we take into account the fact that new construction has also returned to its former glory, it should make sense that getting your home out there before these properties are listed is a smart move. The less homes you have to compete against, the better!

3.) THINGS WILL MOVE FASTER – It’s no secret that banks have become a lot less lenient when giving out loans, so with these boundaries comes a lot more time consuming paperwork. Since less overall business is done during the winter months, the odds are pretty good that your transaction will run much smoother than it would during the spring when lenders become bogged down with applications.

4.) THERE WILL NEVER BE A BETTER TIME TO TRADE UP – If you’re looking to make the jump from a starter home to something with a bit more size and substance, it’s important to remember that prices are on the rise and are projected to appreciate by over 23% by 2019. With this, current interest rates are sitting around 4%, so choosing not to market your home in the very near future may not only wind up costing you more in raw dollars, but may also cause you to miss out on a great 30-year fixed interest rate.

5.) MOVING ON AND MOVING UP – Instead of getting caught up in the perfect time of year to market your home or assuming that “everyone sells in the spring – I should, too,” take a moment to remember why you want to leave your current home in the first place. Do you want to be closer to family? Are there health concerns involved? Do you want to move on with your life or find a new sense of freedom?

Only you can answer the above questions; however, it’s often easy to procrastinate on large life events (such as selling a home!). Therefore, if the time has really come for you and your family to move on, remember your reasoning and start making things happen—regardless of whether warm weather is here or not.

If you’d to know more about what you can do, please feel free to contact me. I’d love to help.

Pam Evans | Hello Pam Evans Real Estate | www.HelloPamEvans.com | 678-778-6551