The best season to buy a house is a hotly debated topic. Many people believe that summer is the ideal time to search for a new home. It does have its advantages, but it also has downsides.
You’ll Have More Opportunities to Look at Houses
If you work during the day and you can only view properties in the evening, summer can be an excellent time to look for your next home. With longer days, you’ll have more daylight hours to view houses after you get out of work. You’ll also be able to see a home’s exterior and landscaping without snow, ice or leaves blocking the view.
Kids Are Out of School
During the school year, families tend to have hectic schedules filled with extracurricular activities. That can make it difficult for parents to find the time to look at houses. If you do manage to find a home you like, you might not want to uproot your family and have your kids start attending a new school in the middle of the academic year.
Moving in the summer might be less stressful for everyone. You can have more time to find the right property and go through the home-buying process, and your kids will be able to get used to a new house and neighborhood before they start attending a new school.
Although many families like to take it easy in the summer, others pack their schedules with vacations and get-togethers with family and friends. If you have a busy summer social calendar, it might be hard to find the time to look for a new house and move.
You May or May Not Find a Good Deal
You might find plenty of homes for sale during the summer months, as well as lots of people who want to buy them. That might lead to bidding wars, and you might miss out on a house that you wanted or pay more than you would have liked. On the other hand, sellers who didn’t find buyers in the spring and who are eager to move before the end of summer might be willing to lower their prices or provide other incentives.
Moving Might Be Challenging and Expensive
Since summer is a popular time to buy and sell houses, moving companies are generally busy. You might have to make reservations far in advance, move on a day that’s not your top choice, or pay more due to high demand. You won’t, however, have to worry about snow, ice or freezing temperatures interfering with your plans.
Move at the Time That Makes Sense for You
There isn’t a “best” season to buy a house. Consider your reason for moving and your personal circumstances to figure out when is the right time to look for your next home.