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Here’s a good question to ask yourself: How “wise” is conventional wisdom? For decades people have said, “You can’t sell your house in winter.” But what do the FACTS and STATISTICS say? Actually, they paint a VERY different picture. Let’s take a minute to explore why …
Setting the Record Straight
As bestselling “money guru” Dave Ramsey just pointed out, the notion that “You can’t sell your home in winter” is, in late 2022, a total, outdated myth. “For us nerds who want the stats,” Ramsey writes, “over a million homes get sold in the winter every year. In fact, existing home sales were in the 350,000–515,000 range per month from December 2021 to February 2022, while the spring and summer months of 2022 saw homes selling at 450,000–525,000 per month from March through August.”
In other words, the difference between selling your house in winter versus selling it next spring is not nearly as great as you might have imagined. Here in Maine, there are 4 primary reasons why “Sell Your House NOW” has become such a smart strategy, including:
All-Time High House Prices
Although it’s counter-intuitive, statistics clearly show a higher average listing price during the winter months. The combination of highly motivated buyers (which winter buyers are by definition) plus buyers fearing continued interest-rate spikes means “Sell Your House” has become a historically smart strategy. As we reported in our last blog, the median price of the average home sold in Maine has now risen to $330,000 for a single-family house—an all-time high.
Less Worry about “Curb Appeal”
While “curb appeal” can be a very significant factor during other seasons, in winter it’s less of an issue. So you don’t have to sweat it as much. For example, not having your landscaping in tip-top shape is no longer the potential deal-breaker it might be in other seasons. Just clear away the snow,ensure there is no hidden debris, and you’re good-to-go!
Highly Motivated Buyers—With Time Off to “Shop”
Sure, the holidays may be hectic, but they also offer “down time” to home buyers seeking a house just like yours. And again—these buyers are serious and highly motivated. Winter buyers are often working against a deadline, whether it’s a necessary relocation, an expiring lease, or a contract on their present home. They are moving because they NEED to move. Statistics show, for example, that one of the biggest months for corporate relocation is January, meaning those home buyers are on a deadline to get their families moved.
Your House—an Attention-Grabber
Finally, a great reason to sell your house in winter is that you’ll have much less competition. Because most people still DO believe the myth that you can’t sell your house in winter, they wait until spring to list. That means when people scour the Internet for nice houses to buy this winter, YOUR house can jump out at them. And given the record-high sale prices of homes in Maine right now, that can result in a pretty sweet “payday” for you and your family.
Interested in buying your dream house—or selling one—in central Maine? We’d love to assist you, and invite you to contact us today.
