Posted On November 21st, 2022

Tips for Buying a Home During the Holidays

If you do opt to buy a home during the holiday season, real estate pros say there are a few strategies that can make your journey easier.

1. Enlist a good agent.

Having a good agent on your side is critical during any point in the year – but it’s particularly important around the holidays. First and foremost, you’ll want one who’s experienced and well-connected in your area.

“Fewer houses are often listed from Halloween to the New Year,” says Jon Sanborn, co-founder of real estate investment company SD House Guys in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. “You will need someone to find those key properties and utilize their network.”

Choosing an agent who has colleagues you can lean on is wise, too.

As Bennett explains, “I would recommend working with a brokerage that has several agents on staff. That will ensure that your search does not need to slow down, even as agents take time off to be with their families.”

2. Get preapproved.

You should also get preapproved for your mortgage. This gives you an accurate idea of what price you should be shopping in and also helps you act fast when it’s time to make an offer.

“If you see the right house, that will help your agent make an offer regardless of the day,” Bennett says. “You won’t need to spend time tracking down various stakeholders over the holidays.”

Getting preapproved can also help you in a rising-rate market, when you may need to make budget adjustments quickly.

“The most important step that a buyer can take to ensure a smooth transaction is to get preapproved for a mortgage loan,” Budnick says. “With interest rates changing rapidly, it will be important to understand how much home you qualify for and what it will mean to your buying power if rates increase during your home search.”

3. Plan ahead.

When buying during the holidays, you can expect to encounter some absences. Maybe your agent will leave to visit family, or you have a vacation planned as well.

“Right as you enter the Thanksgiving holiday, people's minds are in full holiday swing,” says Christian Ross, managing broker at Engel & Völkers in Atlanta, Georgia. “People aren't taking two days off; they are taking a week off. Make sure you have additional points of contact so you can get any questions or concerns answered in a timely manner.”

You should also line up other professionals early on in case they have other plans, too. This might include cleaners, painters, moving companies and, most importantly, a home inspector.

“Keep a home inspector on notice the closer you get to landing your dream home,” says Christa Kenin, an agent with Douglas Elliman in Connecticut. “A delayed inspection can hold up your mortgage process and will frustrate the seller.”

4. Know the seller and be aggressive.

Since demand is down this time of year, agents say buyers have leverage – leverage they should use to get the best deal possible.

“Sellers would much prefer to unload a home before winter arrives,” Kenin says. “Buyers can capitalize on this anxiety. I encourage my holiday house hunters to aggressively negotiate the closer we get to the holidays.”

To help in those negotiations, work with your agent to understand the seller and their motivations for selling.

As Budnick puts it, “Determine the seller’s hot buttons. Are there things that are important to the seller that don’t matter to you? If so, use them to your favor during negotiations.”

Original Post: 4 Tips for Buying a Home During the Holidays