Articles | Churchill Mortgage

Why Wait for Spring? Winter is a Great Time to House Hunt!

Written by Churchill Mortgage | Jan 11, 2019 8:33:32 PM

Are you thinking about placing a freeze on your home search for the winter months? Well, think again! Winter is a terrific time to find and buy your dream home.

Historically, most moves take place during spring and summer months. Buyers hope to take advantage of breaks from school, warmer weather, and increased inventory during their home search. But, as temperatures continue to rise, so do prices. An increased demand during these months often leads to a bidding war that drives home prices up.

Home shopping in winter tends to provide both buyers and sellers with a lower-stress experience. You might have to bundle up to go home shopping, but it’s worth it! You can expect lower home inventory to be offset by lower demand during these months. Although you may have fewer options, sellers are often eager to make a deal allowing you to negotiate a price that fits nicely within your budget.

We’ve put together 4 reasons to consider trudging through the snow to find your perfect home!

1. Be the Center of Attention

Realtors are often more attentive during the winter months because they have less clients vying for their time and attention.

2. See How the House Operates

You’ll get a more thorough inspection. Inspecting a home in the winter allows door and window seals, plumbing, and heating systems to be more extensively tested, providing you with a fuller picture of the property and any repairs needed.

3. Your Budget Will Thank You

Don’t battle with 15 other people for your dream home! With less buyers in the market during winter months, you’re less likely to get caught up in a bidding war. Sellers are often more willing to negotiate because of the limited demand. Not to mention, it’s cheaper to move, literally. Moving costs are often lower during winter months due to lower demand.

4. Get into your Dream Home Sooner

Quicker closings are more common in winter months because of the smaller number of closings going through the process at any one time—which help you get into your dream home quickly!

No matter what season you decide to search for homes, it’s always in your best interest to have an advantage over other home buyers. The next best thing to paying cash for your home is being a Churchill Certified Home Buyer. There’s simply no better way to ensure that once you’re ready to make an offer, you’ll be able to move fast and jump to the front of the line during negotiations in a competitive housing market.

Interested in making a move and taking advantage of home buying during the winter? Click here to get started.

**The certification is subject to the financial status and credit report(s) of everyone on the application remaining substantially the same until closing, an acceptable contract of sale on a suitable property, collateral (things like the appraisal, title, survey, condition, and insurance) satisfies the requirements of the Lender and loan selected is still available in the market. All closing conditions of Lender must be satisfied including the clear transfer of the title, acceptable and adequate title and hazard insurance, flood certification, and any inspections that are required by the real estate contract. The Churchill Certified Homebuyer is not a commitment to lend funds and has not been approved, but it is a conditional approval subject to your acceptance of the terms and the conditions being fully satisfied prior to closing. All conditions are subject to final underwriting and final investor approval.