If you’re serious about finding a new home during (or in time for) the holidays, you’ll need to start with a great agent. Here’s why.
Some unserious Realtors declare the holidays as early as Halloween and turn into sleeper agents only reactivated the second week of January. Many sellers take their homes off the market, not wanting showings interrupting the busy, joyous holiday season. Still, more future sellers want to wait until after the holidays to list in the first place.
Think of it this way: would you settle for reheated Thanksgiving leftovers at a Christmas feast? A great agent won’t serve you stale listings. They’ll leverage their network to find out about other upcoming listings their agent friends plan to list after the holidays. They’ll search for expired and withdrawn listings, knowing those sellers likely plan to resist, and contact those agents to see if the seller would allow an off-market showing. Agents who take their job seriously aren’t hibernating until Mardi Gras–they’re doing the behind-the-scenes work to help match buyers and sellers, against all odds.
Once the agent is secure, the next thing you’ll need to do is draw from your deep reserves of patience. Many professionals, such as lenders, home inspectors, contractors, and movers, may take extra time off during the holidays, and bank holidays in December can lead to closing delays. Plan and stay flexible with your timeline to navigate potential slowdowns.
The next thing to remember is: don’t cut corners. The rush of the season might tempt you to speed things up, but when faced with a delay due to the holidays–such as the inspector’s not having availability until the new year–keep your wits about you. A thorough home inspection is vital. This ensures no hidden issues could turn your holiday joy into a post-move headache.
If you’re really, truly set on being in a new home for the holidays but know the timeline simply won’t work out, take heart! Under certain circumstances, and with legal and insurance protections in place, a skilled agent may be able to sprinkle some Christmas magic and get you early occupancy.
All of these things can work out in your favor, though. If a home remains on the market throughout the holidays, chances are, the sellers have to sell–whether for a job relocation, a tax purpose, or some other reason. Most buyers don’t have to buy. They can usually rent. This gives buyers the upper hand in negotiating since showings during the holidays are typically few and far between. Sellers won’t want to lose a qualified buyer.
There are also plenty of holiday specials to take advantage of, especially pertaining to builder year-end incentives. To boost sales during the slow season, builders will often promote the last turnkey homes in a community with closing cost assistance, interest rate buy down, and other great perks that expire in January. Note that the caveat for maximizing your perks will be working with the builder’s preferred title company and lender, but do some research on builders in the Northshore area to see if any deals catch your eye.
Also, check out the Northshore Home Builders Association membership directory, and see if any other companies are offering year-end perks: think new blinds for your home, furniture, and more.
While the holidays are busy, committed buyers can uncover unique opportunities. The key? Stay prepared, stay patient, and lean on expert guidance to make the season bright.
