I am often asked if December is a good time of year to be selling or buying real estate. In general, the market tends to slow down at this time of year as the Christmas celebrations and holidays begin; the short daylight hours and the weather also contribute to the slow down. Whether to jump in with both feet or not depends largely on your personal circumstance; how quickly do you need to move? Have you already sold? Are you relocating? 

Whatever your reason for moving is, if you need to buy or sell now then you should go ahead. List when its right for you. Don’t try to perfectly time the market as there are no guarantees and there may even be advantages to selling in the Fall or Winter time.

If you are a Seller, there is less competition as there are fewer listings available. Buyers that are out braving the weather this time of year tend to be more serious and focused. Fewer home choices for buyers often translates into to quicker sale for the seller. Buyers can also use this time of year to their advantage as sellers tend to be more motivated when there are fewer buyers in the market; it may be a good time to get great prices from motivated sellers. This is especially the case if the home has already been on the market for some time or on certain types of property (recreational) that are seasonal and don’t show well all covered with snow.