The change in the weather this month is prompting Sellers to ask “Should I list my house in the winter or wait for spring?… are people still buying?… isn’t the market dead?” These are concerns we hear frequently.

Statistically, more homes sell during the spring so why not wait? Many home owners consider winter the “off season” choosing to sit on the sidelines during the colder months. And, Sellers already on the market may decide to suspend their listing from the market during the holidays, and then relist in the spring when the yard is in bloom.

Historically, sales in the winter months, as a percentage of annual sales are significant, being, 5% in December, 5.2% in January and 7.5% in February, totally almost one fifth of the total annual TRREB sales. And, those two winter months lead right into two of the busiest months of the year, March and April.

Here are some factors to consider:

✓ Winter presents less competition from other sellers. With fewer homes on the market in winter, there is more demand for those listed.

✓ Consumer confidence is gaining with Buyers realizing that values will increase and the time to buy is now. The forecasted stabilizing of interest rates will also impact our winter market.

✓ While the pool of prospective Buyers may be smaller in the winter, those who continue their search are seriously motivated. These winter Buyers, are not “tire kickers.” Motivated Buyers tend to feel more pressure to pull the trigger on something they like rather than wait for something better to come along. While the buyer may have had 10 homes to choose from in June, there may only be 3 homes that fit their criteria in January. If they are motivated to buy, they will likely choose one of those 3 homes.

✓ During the fall Buyers waited for prices to come down while Sellers expectations of summer 2023 prices required some readjustment. In many cases, the gap between expectations and reality was too great to generate a deal. Coming into the winter market, Sellers and Buyers are becoming more reasonable in their expectations and the gap is closing.

✓ There is a changing dynamic in the way Buyers now search for homes online. Previously winter vacations, less daylight hours to view homes, and bad driving weather has limited buyers from viewing homes for sale. Today, Buyers are searching for their homes digitally, day and night, and browsing 3D tours on mobile phones. The way Buyers search for homes has changed, and the time of year, and the weather have far less impact than in the past.

The bottom line is, winter is a great time to capture the attention of motivated buyers and stand out in a way that isn’t possible in the spring market. So, let other homeowners miss the winter market while YOU take advantage!

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Written by William Doutsas, RE/MAX Realtron Office Manager and Edited by Jennifer Clements Top Producer and Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Realtron TurnKey