If you’re planning on buying a new home sometime in the near future, you may be wondering when the best time of year to buy a home really is. There’s many theories about when the best time of year to buy a home is. It’s widely known that inventory on homes available for sale picks up in spring. That means that inventory increases, but so too does the volume of competition for people who are buying homes. Just because spring is busy, in real estate that doesn’t mean that it’s necessarily the best time to buy. 

Spring is, however, a great time to sell your home. The same goes for the summer as the buying frenzy continues right into the fall for most home buyers. As a buyer or a seller, you’ll want to have a good understanding of the housing market no matter what time of year you’re making your property transactions. Whether you’re buying or selling, you’ll want to know how to get the best bang for your buck. While many people are ready for a change after the long winter months, yet, many people can hold out through other times of the year. 

The Market Changes With The Seasons

As the seasons change, so too do the number of people selling versus the number of people who are looking to buy. If you don’t mind the competition and know what you’re looking for, any time is a good time to buy. As a buyer, you’ll either be facing low inventory, tough competition, or a combination of the two. If you’re scoping out the type of home you’d like to live in, you’ll want to browse in the spring. Have your pre-approval ready just in case you find a home you love at the right price. If you’re not in a rush, spring shopping can give you a good idea of what’s out there for you. You’ll be able to narrow down the type of home you want and where you’d like to live when the time is right.

There’s Really No Golden Rule For Timing

When it comes to buying and selling real estate, there is no sweet spot during the year as to when you’ll have better luck. Being prepared and understanding the trends in your area are a good start. When you hire the right real estate agent, they can be your advocate throughout the process of either buying or selling. Agents can research different trends from the time of year that properties are sold in a certain neighborhood right through to the correct pricing for a home just like yours or the one you are looking for.

Curb appeal is a difference-maker during the home selling process. If you understand how to upgrade your residence's curb appeal, you may be better equipped than ever before to enjoy a fast, profitable house selling experience.

Now, let's take a look at three tips to help you improve your house's curb appeal.

1. Prioritize Lawn Care and Maintenance

If your lawn is covered in weeds and high grass, it may be overdue for a trim. Fortunately, you can mow the lawn, trim the hedges and perform assorted home lawn care and maintenance tasks to upgrade your residence's curb appeal in no time at all.

Of course, if you want expert lawn care assistance, you can always hire a home landscaping company. A typical home landscaping company employs friendly, knowledgeable lawn care specialists who can help you improve your lawn and bolster your house's curb appeal.

2. Eliminate Clutter

Lawn decorations may help you differentiate your home from others in your neighborhood. At the same time, these decorations may actually diminish the appearance of your home in the eyes of potential buyers. Also, lawn decorations may make it tough for buyers to envision what life may be like if they purchase your residence.

Remove lawn decorations, because if you have a clutter-free lawn, you can show buyers the true size and beauty of your lawn. And as a result, buyers may fall in love with your residence as soon as they see it.

3. Perform Home Exterior Repairs

If you notice cracked or chipped siding or other home exterior issues, don't wait to correct these problems. Because the longer you wait to perform home exterior repairs, the longer it may take to sell your residence.

For those who are uncomfortable about completing home exterior repairs on their own, it may be beneficial to hire a contractor. This professional will dedicate the necessary time and resources to ensure your home's exterior will impress buyers.

As you search for ways to improve your house's curb appeal, you may want to hire a real estate agent as well. In addition to offering recommendations about how to bolster your home's overall appearance, a real estate agent can serve as an expert guide along the property selling journey.

A real estate agent is happy to help you list your house, promote it to prospective buyers and host home showings and open house events. Plus, if you receive an offer to purchase your residence, a real estate agent can provide recommendations about whether to accept, reject or counter this proposal. A real estate agent will even negotiate with a buyer's agent on your behalf so you can maximize your house sale earnings.

Spend some time upgrading your residence's curb appeal – you'll be glad you did. If you can improve your home's curb appeal, you may be able to stir up lots of interest in your residence and reap the benefits of a quick, seamless house selling experience.

Buying a house is a life-changing decision. As such, you should perform extensive home evaluations before you make your final purchase decision.

There are many questions to consider as you review houses, and these questions include:

1. Does a home match my expectations?

Entering the housing market with homebuying criteria usually is a good idea. If you know what you want to find in your dream house, you can tailor your home search accordingly. As a result, you can speed up the homebuying journey.

When it comes to establishing homebuying criteria, it helps to consider your short- and long-term goals. For example, if you want a house that is close to your current office in the city, you can search for residences in towns and cities near your workplace. Or, if you are willing to upgrade a house on your own, you may want to focus on "fixer-upper" properties.

2. Can I afford a house?

Home prices vary based on many factors. Fortunately, if you create a homebuying budget, you can narrow your house search and review properties that fall within your price range.

Oftentimes, it helps to get pre-approved for a mortgage. Banks and credit unions are happy to provide you with a wide assortment of mortgage options. Once you assess the different types of mortgages, you can choose one that will ensure you can acquire your dream home in no time at all.

3. Will a home require in-depth repairs in the near future?

How a home looks today may not match how this residence looks in the years to come. As you evaluate residences, it may be beneficial to consider potential repairs.

For instance, if a house likely will require a new roof in the next few years, you may need to budget for this expense. Conversely, if a home is brand new or recently has been upgraded, you may be able to avoid costly, time-consuming repairs in the foreseeable future.

If you want to streamline your home search, you can hire a real estate agent too. In fact, if you employ a real estate agent, you can receive comprehensive support throughout the homebuying journey.

A real estate agent has a simple goal: to help you find a great house at a budget-friendly price. To accomplish this goal, a real estate agent will learn about you and your homebuying criteria and craft a personalized homebuying strategy. Plus, a real estate agent will set up home showings, offer expert homebuying recommendations and help you submit an offer to purchase your dream residence. And if you have homebuying concerns or questions, a real estate agent is available to respond to them at your convenience.

Lastly, be careful as you evaluate available homes in your preferred cities and towns. Keep in mind that no house is perfect, and any residence you buy may increase or decrease in value over time. And if you find a home that you want to buy, prepare a competitive offer, and you can boost the likelihood of receiving an instant "Yes" from a property seller.

In the community of Bellingham, MA in the past month there have been 25 homes sold.  The average sale price of these homes was $396,791 and the homes were on the market an average of 23 days.  There have been 7 new homes listed for sale during the past month in Bellingham, MA.
 
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