By Joseph Callaway
Welcome to the most missed and misunderstood opportunity in all real estate. It’s Christmas! And it’s New Years. And who wants to keep the house ready for showings or go looking for that next dream home when there are yards to decorate and gifts to wrap?
Smart sellers and savvy buyers, that’s who!
From the seller’s viewpoint, you can go on the market in the spring, along with every other seller from the “desperate” to the “let’s see what happens crowd.” Or you can be listed when no one else is out there. Yes, there may be fewer buyers, but they are dead set on finding a home. For whatever the reason, these buyers are serious. All the lookie-loos are busy making pudding and drinking eggnog. The chances of getting sold almost double in December, January, and February.
Which brings us to buyers during the same three months. It’s called the money season or for the pricey group, “The Luxury Season.” Just think about it, this is when all the winter visitors arrive for the holidays with family, the golf tournament, the bowl games (including the Super Bowl this year), the auto auctions, the art shows, and the Airbnb group.
They bring their money and buy second homes. For the luxury crowd, it may be their fifth home because there is nowhere in the world you want to live longer than three or four months at a time and they do all their business with sellers smart enough to be in the market when no one else is.
There is still time. You can have a yard sign and a lockbox in as little as a day or two after you make the decision to sell. The question is, will it be you? If it is, “We wish you a merry contract and a happy new home.” Sing it Barbra!
Joseph Callaway is the owner of Those Callaways and Callaway Realty. His cell is 602-796-5751.
