7 Reasons to List Your Home During the Holidays

As we near the holidays, many prospective home sellers will struggle with the question, “Do I list my home now or wait until after New Year’s?”

The answer may hinge on your personal financial situation and motivation to sell, but there are some good reasons to show your home during the holidays.

The average 30-year fixed rate mortgage has remained below 6 percent for almost three years.

On occasion, rates have fallen below 4 percent in the last few weeks but there is little reason to think they will drop any further.

The more likely scenario is for rates to edge up slightly in 2011 as we near the presidential election.

For the most part, prices are beginning to stabilize in our area and it’s getting harder to negotiate huge discounts off a properly priced home.

While there are still more sellers than buyers, there is no question that the best homes sell quickly when market ready.

Let’s explore seven reasons to list your home for sale during the holidays:

1. Houses show better when decorated for the holidays – especially when they’re professionally staged. This is my favorite reason so it always goes at the top of the list.

2. Lookers during the holidays are normally more serious buyers. Maybe they’re hoping to buy quickly and move-in before the New Year.

3. The number of listings usually declines during the last few months of the year.

There is no reason to believe that this November and December will be any different. Serious buyers have fewer houses to choose from and less competition could mean a quicker sale and more money for you.

4. The opposite is true in January and February.

As the supply of available homes begins to build, there will be more homes competing for attention. More homes to choose from means less money for those who wait to sell.


5. Worried about the disruption of showing your home during the holiday season?


You can be actively marketing your home, but restrict showings on days or at specific times that could potentially interrupt your holiday plans.

6. You can sell now for more money and possibly negotiate a delayed closing or extended occupancy until early next year!

7. By selling now, you may have an opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer during the early spring, when many more houses are on the market for less money.

This will allow you to sell high and buy low.