Generally, listing homes for sale in South Lake Tahoe during the holidays isn’t the top of anyone’s list. Sellers feel like the can’t put up their favorite decorations, or their annual holiday events will be interrupted by the phone ringing and everyone will have to get kicked out for a showing. Not to mention, South Lake Tahoe homes for sale don’t actually sell unless it is spring or summer….right? False! South Lake Tahoe real estate is a year round show. Think about it, this is a year round town with activities for both beach babies and snow enthusiasts. We really only see a brief slow down during the shoulder season, which is the couple of months transitioning from summer to winter or vice versa. And even then, that is not always the case. Sometimes we go straight from warm and sunny to snowy conditions for our slope lovers with no break in between. So why is winter a good time to list homes for sale in South Lake Tahoe? Check it out!
Seller competition is lighter during the holidays
All those thoughts about holiday selling? It is a common misconception, which means a lot of people take their homes for sale in South Lake Tahoe off the market during the holidays with the intention of putting them back on in the spring. Some do this because they are part timers who want to use their home during the winter. They may put a renter in it. Or they may want to decorate and host parties without having to keep their South Lake Tahoe real estate in showing condition through the holidays. There are plenty of reasons. Thankfully, for other sellers, this means less competition.
Winter buyers are usually pretty serious
Trekking through snow storms and touring South Lake Tahoe homes for sale when it is cold out is not everyone’s idea of a good time. During the winter, people generally want to stay warm and relax inside. Not put on their winter clothes and walk around properties. Whether these are people who are new to the buying game or didn’t have luck during the summer months, these folks are usually pretty serious. Which means most of the time, they will have their financing in order and will be ready to make a move.
Internet searches increase during the holidays
Folks aren’t just shopping for stocking stuffers and that hot toy of the year. Buyers are searching for South Lake Tahoe homes for sale too! Having your home on the market means it will actually be seen in search results.
This coming year in real estate has some interesting forecasts that could impact sellers too. If your main goal is to get more money than you paid for it, the next six months is your time to shine. We are expecting inventory to catch up with demand the last half of 2018. While prices will continue to go up in most areas for the first part of the year, they are expected to ease once new inventory floods the market. Not to mention, mortgage rates are expected to go up to 5% within the next year, which impacts buying power. If listing your home is something you have had on your mind, don’t let myths about holiday real estate deter you. If you have questions about buying or selling South Lake Tahoe real estate, give me a call. I would be happy to help!
