Will Your Poperty Sell In The Winter?
By Jim Palmer Jr.

Most sellers remove their house or property from the market in the winter, mostly because they don’t want to move in the icy conditions, but sometimes it is just because they perceive that a subdued winter market would hold no promise of selling. While both of those reasons may be valid, it certainly doesn’t mean that the home or property won’t sell.

Since most people (including some Realtors®) think that way, the inventory of available listings usually shrinks dramatically in winter months in our local area. That condition may actually give you the edge, since the inventory is down and your listing may become much more visible.

While it is true that most of us dread moving when the snow is on the ground, we occasionally experience milder winters like this past few years when it would be more tolerable.

Land sales seem to increase at odd times of the year. For instance, each January, when people are able to calculate the amount of tax return they will be receiving, land sales seem to increase. One reason for that delayed reaction is also that most land buyers spend a lot of time thinking about it before they bite. There is usually a lesser sense of urgency for land buyers, compared to a home buyer who needs shelter immediately. Their desire for property is often more related to a dream they have to get to the country someday rather than an actual immediate need. These types of buyers have usually found and viewed their property of choice many times before they actually submit an offer in writing. Of course there is always an exception to the rule! I once showed a property in chest deep snow (on snow shoes) to a buyer who was so enamored by the beauty of the property that they immediately purchased the parcel, even though they had never seen it without snow.

Many Realtors® want inventory that will sell immediately. The reason is obvious. They want to see an immediate return on their marketing efforts and think that winter may not be the best time for that. Experienced and established brokers may be more willing to take the chance, since they know that homes and properties do sell in the winter time, and they have learned to create a financial buffer in case such inventory doesn’t sell immediately.

Past Articles

Could Legal Verdict Change Commisions?
A jury recently handed a loss to the National Association of Realtors® in a case where the complaint...MORE... 

Benefit to Buyers
On January 1, 2024, major changes to the Law of Agency will go into effect...MORE... 
 

Agency Law Clarified
Since 1996 the State of Washington passed a new statute that defined and clarified agency law...MORE... 

Barefoot Bob
Some years ago I was with a surveyor and a land owner while attempting to show..MORE... 




 

Is Title Insurance Really Necessary?
Title companies are in the business of resear..MORE... 
 

Don't Judge a Book by its Cover
One day I walked from my office to the Bi-Mar..MORE... 
 

Problems with "Transfer on Death Deed"
A Transfer on Death Deed is a legal document...MORE... 
 

Why People Hate Real Estate Agents
One day in a casual conversation among friends, someone made the comment...MORE... 
 

Rural America
I recently returned to my home town in Eastern Oregon for...MORE... 


 

Will Your Property Sell in the Winter?
Most sellers remove their house or property from the market...MORE... 

Danger, Danger! Wire Fraud Alert
There is a crisis sweeping through the real estate industry that has continued to grow... MORE.. 

Manufactured Homes
Manufactured homes have been around for many years but sometimes receive an undeserved... MORE..

Will Your Home Survive a Wildfire?
I live in a timbered area where there are over 30 homes on a dead... MORE...

Real Estate Acronyms
There is an acronym used frequently among Realtor® ranks, FSBO... MORE...
 

Avoid Expensive Mistakes
A few years ago a property owner became entangled in an unfortunate legal mess that could... MORE...

Beware of Snakes
The other day a friend killed a rattle snake that had wandered into their yard on the west edge of Williams... MORE...

Is Cash Really King?
It is a common practice for loaded investors to wave cash in the face of a seller, as if that cash... MORE...

Improved Consumer Protections
Consumer pressure on the real estate industry inevitably works... MORE...

Does it Matter how You Take Title?
There are multiple ways to take title of real... MORE...
 

Artisan Wells a Benefit?
There are many misconceptions concerning water wells that have been circulating for years, one of which concerns artesian wells. ...MORE...

What is it Worth?
It is sometimes interesting how people come to conclusions about ...MORE...