Winter is usually the cheapest time of year to buy a home. Salespeople are often motivated, which automatically translates into an advantage for you. Most people suspend their ads from Thanksgiving to the New Year because they assume that shoppers are scarce. What is the best month to buy a home at the best price? While it's hard to say with certainty, January and February are the most likely to offer you the lowest prices in your market.
Our analysis of the past five years confirms that the overall real estate market is warming with the climate. Across the country, home sales prices are generally lower in January and higher in June, but there is some variation in the 50 largest metropolitan areas. If you prioritize convenience over price, chances are you have a lot of options if you're looking for a home in the spring. As of early fall, inventory is still plentiful, but the market has cooled down enough to negotiate a good price.
There's a combination of factors at play here, one of which is that the holiday season, preparing to buy or sell a home takes time that many people don't have at the end of the year. Subway data for New York City follows the national trend to some extent, with sales prices and inventory higher between June and September. For buyers, this means that the most expensive time to buy is also the time of year when they're most likely to find a home they love. In addition to sales prices, the supply of homes for sale, or inventory, is usually lower in the winter months among more populated areas.
Nationally, the average sales price peaks slightly earlier than inventory, starting the annual decline in July, while the domestic inventory continues to rise through the fall. So when is a good time to buy a home? The right time to buy a home is when you know that your finances can take responsibility for owning a home. Among the larger metropolitan areas, homes spent an average of 76 days on the market in the cheapest months, compared to 51 days in the most expensive months. Depending on where they're looking for a home, buyers may find a sweet spot: a period of the year when average prices start to fall, but there are still plenty of homes to choose from.
Winter is probably the best time of year to buy a home if your primary consideration is price, but buyers looking for options will find the widest selection of properties during the spring. Read on to learn what time of year will give you the most options and the biggest savings when buying a home in New York. Doing some research in advance and comparing options to find the best rates could save you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your loan. The labor market was most active in New York from late spring to early fall, while homes sold above market value, according to the report.
The right agent can help you find the home that best fits your budget and priorities, and negotiate a winning offer so you don't miss out on your dream home.
