Many aspects of the seasonal real estate market have changed over the past few years. We no longer see as strong a "school year" effect on sales, or at least we've switched to the college calendar. We have had bad winters with brisk sales, and mild ones where buyers wait until spring. Shoreline activity is not always predictably summer-oriented anymore.
However, there is one deadline that hasn't changed: The end of the year is still the end of the tax year for individuals. In addition, it remains a psychological deadline for lots of decisions and even actions. That behooves sellers to try to capitalize on those feelings in buyers, and to provide choices in the fall season. There is always a process for selling that takes time, and the fall/winter holidays can cause delays in financing and other contingencies, so it's important to get ahead of those issues. Sellers who list now may reap the advantages of the bumper season in the fall.
Like many of the other seasons listed above, the fall season can be iffy. Weather does play a part, as do elections. This is not a presidential or gubernatorial year, which mitigates the latter factor. However, it is a sort of last chance time to get the attention of buyers. Things that don't get done before Thanksgiving often wait until spring, be they home repairs, trips, or life changes. There is a long enough period between Thanksgiving and spring so that there is no real harm in listing now. If a home doesn't sell, it will get a fresh market in the spring anyway. So go for it!
