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Pros & Cons of Selling During the Holidays
Pros and Cons of Selling During the Holidays
If you are thinking about listing your Raleigh Durham home for sale this fall, you might be concerned about showing it, and possibly having to move, over the holiday season. The holidays are already a busy time of year for most families, so you would be right to wonder if you are making a good decision by marketing your home between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. Some sellers even take their homes off the market temporarily during the holiday season, but, before you make that choice, consider all the pros and cons to selling during this festive time of year.
Pros:
1. Buyers are serious. Buyers looking for a home during the holiday season are usually serious about getting under contract, or else they’d put it off. Often, they are starting a new job at the beginning of the year, or they want to get their children registered in school by the end of the holiday break, or maybe they want the tax break in the current year. Regardless of their reasons, if they are out looking in November or December, they are serious buyers.
2. There are not as many homes on the market. As a seller, you benefit from having fewer homes on the market to compete with. Less inventory combined with serious buyers means sellers get higher offers.
3. You can take advantage of holiday season curb appeal. While it’s recommended that you not over-decorate while showing your home, you can take advantage of the warm and festive vibes that holiday decorations add. Some white twinkle lights, a wreath on the door, and poinsettias lining your porch can add just the right cozy and inviting feel to win over buyers.
4. Cooler weather may invigorate buyers. The only thing worse than house hunting in the dead of summer is moving and unpacking in the dead of summer. On the other hand, the cooler temperatures of the holiday season may fuel buyers’ desire to get out on the hunt.
Cons:
1. You won’t have as many lookers. We noted that buyers shopping during the holidays are serious ones, but there will definitely be fewer buyers looking to move in Raleigh Durham than later in the New Year.
2. Showing your home may be more inconvenient. Again, it’s a busy time of year for most families, so do consider the inconvenience of having showings while you are preparing for the holidays or enjoying time off from school or work.
3. Business closings may slow down transactions. Many businesses have shortened hours or holiday closings, which means you or your buyers might have delays with such things as scheduling inspections and appraisals, clearing title or escrow payments, or getting repairs completed.
All in all, the market in the triangle is wonderful for sellers! You can’t really choose a terrrible time to list your Raleigh Durham house for sale. There are pros and cons to all of the different seasons. If you are looking to make a a move in the triangle, give us a call so we can set up a no strings consutlation about your home!
Zach + Cindi Honeycutt, Realtors, Movil Realty, 919-730-0777
Are Interest Rates Expected to Rise Next Year?
Are Interest Rates Expected to Rise Over the Next Year?
Buying a home in Raleigh Durham has never been better when it comes to interest rates! The competition and lack of inventory…not so great! But the low interest rates have really made it more possible for people interested in buying a home in Raleigh or Durham!
So far this year, mortgage rates continue to hover around 3%, encouraging many hopeful homebuyers to enter the housing market. However, there’s a good chance rates will increase later this year and going into 2022, ultimately making it more expensive to borrow money for a home loan. Here’s a look at what several experts have to say. This will impact nationally and locally for those looking to buy a home in Raleigh Durham or elsewhere.
Danielle Hale, Chief Economist, realtor.com:
“Our long-term view for mortgage rates in 2021 is higher. As the economic outlook strengthens, thanks to progress against coronavirus and vaccines plus a dose of stimulus from the government, this pushes up expectations for economic growth . . . .”
Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist, National Association of Realtors (NAR):
“In 2021, I think rates will be similar or modestly higher . . . mortgage rates will continue to be historically favorable.”
Freddie Mac:
“We forecast that mortgage rates will continue to rise through the end of next year. We estimate the 30-year fixed mortgage rate will average 3.4% in the fourth quarter of 2021, rising to 3.8% in the fourth quarter of 2022.”
Below are the most recent mortgage rate forecasts from four top authorities – Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), and NAR:
Bottom Line
If you’re planning to buy a home in Raleigh Durham, purchasing before mortgage interest rates rise may help you save significantly over the life of your home loan! We are Cindi & Zach Honeycutt, your favorite Raleigh Durham realtors! We would be honored to work alongside you on your raleigh durham home search!
The Honeycutts, Movil Realty, 919-730-0777 call or text anytime!
Will the Raleigh Durham housing market bloom this spring?
Spring is almost here, and many are wondering what it will bring for the Raleigh Durham housing market. Even though the pandemic continues on, it’s certain to be very different from the spring we experienced at this time last year nationally. Here’s what a few industry experts have to say about the national housing market and how it will bloom this season.
Danielle Hale, Chief Economist, realtor.com:
“Despite early weakness, we expect to see new listings grow in March and April as they traditionally do heading into spring, and last year’s extraordinarily low new listings comparison point will mean year over year gains. One other potential bright spot for would-be homebuyers, new construction, which has risen at a year over year pace of 20% or more for the last few months, will provide additional for-sale inventory relief.”
Ali Wolf, Chief Economist, Zonda:
“Some people will feel comfortable listing their home during the first half of 2021. Others will want to wait until the vaccines are widely distributed. This suggests more inventory will be for sale in late 2021 and into the spring selling season in 2022.”
Freddie Mac:
“Since reaching a low point in January, mortgage rates have risen by more than 30 basis points… However, the rise in mortgage rates over the next couple of months is likely to be more muted in comparison to the last few weeks, and we expect a strong spring sales season.”
Mark Fleming, Chief Economist, First American:
“As the housing market heads into the spring home buying season, the ongoing supply and demand imbalance all but assures more house price growth…Many find it hard to believe, but housing is actually undervalued in most markets and the gap between house-buying power and sale prices indicates there’s room for further house price growth in the months to come.”
Bottom Line
The experts are very optimistic about the housing market right now! And we are optimistic about the local market here in Raleigh Durham. If you pressed pause on your real estate plans over the winter, let’s chat to determine how you can re-engage in the homebuying process this spring in the triangle! We would be honored to be your Raleigh Durham real estate agents! Call us or text us anytime, or connect with us on social media by searching @thehoneycuttrealtors
Zach and Cindi Honeycutt, Raleigh Durham Realtors, Movil Realty, 919-730-0777