This is the time of year, every year, when I remind people why it's the best season for buying real estate. Rates tend to be lower than other times, and sellers are often more flexible, because they want to sell before the end of their tax year, and they don't want to head into the cold and snowy season with empty property.
People who buy between Halloween and Thanksgiving have a fighting chance to close before the end of the year, and they get to start the new year in a new place. They have less competition than at other times, and they spend less time, on average, both looking and negotiating. Something about a calendar deadline seems to make people more serious and more efficient. As an added benefit, no one buys a property where the furnace doesn't work, when the temperature outside is low enough!
So why don't more buyers buy at this point in the calendar? It's a busy time, and they get distracted with other things. There is less daylight, when it's easier to see properties. There are more expenses for holidays and tuitions, so people feel poorer. There can be weather delays as you get toward winter.
None of those reasons should outrank the simple time and money advantages. It might be scary to think about looking on Halloween, but won't you be grateful at Thanksgiving?
