Holiday Real Estate Market - It Does Exist!

[Originally posted over at S.E. Michigan Real Estate] 

Eight Reasons to List During the Holidays

Wow!  You'd think, from anecdotal evidence, that no one sells or buys a home during the holidays.  Obviously, that's not the case; the housing market statistics show that homes do close during the months of December and January.  There is a definite decrease in the number of homes that sell during the holidays.  Just check out the statistics here.

For those folks thinking of selling their home and waiting for spring, here are eight good reasons to list your home for sale during the holidays:

1. Less Competition
2. Serious Buyers Shop During the Holidays
3. The Best Agents Continue to Work During the Holidays
4. Relocation Buyers Move This Time of Year
5. If it Does Not Sell During the Holidays, You are Ahead of the Others
6. Not Lost in The Spring Shuffle
7. Your Home Looks Great This Time of Year
8. Buyers are More Sensitive to Scheduling Appointments

For those folks from warmer climes, the Michigan real estate market does slow down in the winter time.  A lot of it, I am sure, is due to the holidays.  But the weather simply makes it difficult to get around at times.  So showings become more...interesting.

11/23/06 Update:  My friends over at MIOAKLANDCOUNTY have a similar post on questions they field from clients about having homes listed over the holidays.  The money quotes:

....if your home is not on the market, they can't buy it. Home buyers this time of year are serious.

This time of the year is a great time to have your home on the market. Just remember the basics. Have it well priced. Make sure it is in good condition. Know that you have a strong marketing plan in place to get the word out. And do what you can to make it accessible to potential buyers. With these things in place, you are more likely to have a quick sale, and you are not competing with all of the homes that will be on the market in the spring.