Fall & Winter Home Buying

At first glance, the fall and winter season may look like an attractive time to purchase a home. It’s before the spring market picks up and work is usually a bit slower paced. Though these things may be true, there are some pros and cons that could heavily impact your home buying process in the fall and winter.

Let’s start with the pros of the fall season.

• You will shop with important features in mind as winter is on its way. The fall reminds us that snow is coming and forces us to think about energy efficient windows, garages, in-floor heating and other features you may forget about when shopping in the summer.
• The fall is a very pretty season. The trees still have leaves so it is easy to picture your view all your long. The light is also good for seeing a property in its finest form.
• The fall real estate market is generally slower, so you may avoid having to deal with competing offers on a property. Sellers may also be more motivated to negotiate on possession dates and prices.
• Finally, it’s nice to think you will be able to move into your new place before the holiday season and get to enjoy decorating for your first year in your new home.

And now the cons of the potentially early winter.

• The weather in Calgary is very unpredictable and you never know if you’ll be moving in during 20 degree weather or a blizzard.
• When there’s snow on the ground it’s hard to picture the yard and what will be required for maintenance.
• You’ll have to view homes earlier in the day to take advantage of the natural light.
• People don’t drive as much in the winter and it may be difficult to determine what the traffic level is around your new home.
• The selection is much lower in December and January as people want to be settled in their homes over the holidays. This also goes for lawyers who may have reduced winter hours when you need them to help you with a mortgage funding glitch.

As you can see, fall is a great season to look for a home if you are able to look early and take possession quickly. As winter starts approaching the selection will go down and the potential for bad weather conditions increases. If you haven’t found what you’re looking for by mid-October then it’s probably best to discuss with your real estate professional about waiting for the spring and summer months. Good luck!