A Home for the Holidays? Why You May Want to Add Holiday House Hunting to Your Wish List!

Dashing through the snow… to go check out a home,

O’er the fields you go… to make it all your own!

While those may not be the correct lyrics to the classic holiday favorite, those lines are a reality for some people this holiday season. A new job, new school or new start may lead people to be driving around for more than decorations and light displays during the holidays. But, while most people are busy checking their lists and “fa-la-la-la-la-ing,” is it even worth taking the time to look for a new home during the holidays?

Frankly, how many people do you think are searching for a new home this holiday season? If you guessed “not many,” you are probably correct, which is why now could be the perfect time to find the home of your dreams. True, there may be fewer homes on the market during the holiday season, but there are also fewer people looking for those homes.

With less people scouring the market for homes, you may be more likely to find a home that fits your needs and wants; plus, you will have less competition when it comes to making an offer on that home. What does less competition mean for a buyer? It could mean, like so many other holiday deals, you could get the home you’ve been looking for at a great, low price.

Another possible benefit to buying a home during the holiday season is that if a seller is willing to put in the work of having their house on the market during the holidays, they are likely very motivated to sell. Those serious sellers could be more eager to accept an offer or help with closing costs.

If a home has been on the market for an extended period of time, a holiday seller may even be more willing to negotiate the price of their home to sell it prior to the start of the new year. Now, let’s not forget the obvious tax benefit for buyers as well. If you close on your new home before the end of the year, Santa may be bringing you a hefty tax deduction this holiday season!

Speaking of holiday gifts, lenders may also be feeling a little more generous during the holiday season. For buyers, this can mean lower interest rates and, sometimes, even lesser mortgage fees. Along with these abbreviated features, may come a faster closing, too. Since there are less people buying homes during this season, there are less people going to closing. That can translate to a faster closing for serious buyers and sellers!

So, if you had put buying a new home on the back burner, you may want to reconsider adding it to your wish list this holiday season. Besides, who wouldn’t want to start the new year off right in the comforts of their new home?