Are you ready to list your home this fall? But then you heard some chatter that it’s better to wait until the spring, and now you’re not quite sure what you should do? Let the real estate experts here at Sequoia Real Estate provide the information you need to make the right decision.
First, you should know that there isn’t only one right time to list. Homes listed in the spring generally sell a little faster than homes listed in the fall. But they’re also up against stiff competition as lots of homeowners list their homes in the spring.
Instead of trying to time the market, focus on your needs. If you’re ready to start the next chapter of your life, there’s no need to wait until spring. You can take advantage of these five reasons to list your home in the fall.
1. Competition Is Usually Lower in the Fall
Listing inventory typically goes up in the spring. This means buyers have more homes to choose from. And this makes it harder for your home to stand out in a sea of listings.
But when you list in the fall, when inventory is lower, you have less competition, which makes it easier to capture the attention of qualified buyers.
2. Buyers Who Gave Up May Have Renewed Interest
During the chaotic market conditions from the summer of 2020 to the summer of 2021, many buyers simply gave up. They grew tired of getting outbid, losing out to cash buyers, and getting offers rejected.
While we’re still very much in a seller’s market, we’re no longer experiencing the out-of-control frenzy from earlier this year. So buyers who had given up on the market are starting to come back. They’re tired of the search, and they’re serious about making a competitive offer today.
3. You Can Appeal to the Holiday Ideal
Buying a home is as much an emotional decision as a rational one. And with the holidays around the corner, you can appeal to buyers looking for the holiday spirit.
Does your home look its best decked in lights and holiday decorations? Set the holiday mood for buyers and watch them make an offer so they can experience the same feeling year after year.
4. You’ll Be Able to Buy Early Before the Market Heats Up Again in the Spring
Selling your home and immediately buying a new one can be tricky. Sell during peak season, and you’ll have to pay peak season prices for your new home. But if you sell in the fall, you’ll be perfectly positioned to purchase your new home during the off-season of the winter/early spring before the influx of buyers starts competing for listings.
5. The Market May Have Peaked
Even the best real estate analysts don’t have a crystal ball; we can’t know for sure that the market has peaked without the benefit of hindsight. But we do know that there are signs of a stabilizing market in 2021. We’re starting to see listings stay on the market longer and have fewer bidding wars. So, while we’re certainly not expecting any kind of market crash, we are seeing growth slow to a more sustainable level. If you’ve been waiting for the peak of the market to sell, this may be it!
Don’t let the market keep you stuck in a home when you’re ready to move on. There are benefits to listing your home in the fall that you can’t get during the spring and summer. So there’s no reason to wait it out. Contact Sequoia Real Estate today for a customized marketing plan for your unique home.