Almost anyone who knows about real estate also knows that springtime is the peak time to sell a house – because the weather is warm, buyers are out looking at houses, and houses also look their best with flowers blooming in the yard. But one of the smartest buying tips – and one that nobody ever tells you about when you are in the market to buy a house – is to buy in winter. That is perfectly logical if you think about it, because if spring is the season that is best for sellers, the opposite season will naturally be the best one for buyers. Many houses for sale in the cold months are still on the market because they could not attract a buyer over the summer. Homeowners in winter usually have to pay more money for utilities to keep them warm, and the longer they hold on to unsold property the more eager they are to accept an offer. Negotiate reasonably, but push for discount prices and you may get a great deal on a home that would sell for a lot more in a warmer time of year. Not only do winter real estate shoppers get the benefit of looking when there is less competition from other buyers, but they also buy a house at a time when sellers are the most desperate and willing to offer discount prices. Realtors are also experiencing their slowest time of the year in terms of business, so they are more apt to give you their full attention. Wait until warm weather and many real estate agents – at least the really successful ones – may be too busy to show you houses. The same is true for other people who work in the real estate industry, such as mortgage brokers, appraisers, and home inspectors. The one exception to this rule is Florida, of course, because that is where everyone goes to escape cold during the winter months. But you may save yourself enough cash by buying in the middle of a frigid winter that you can then afford to take off and fly south to Miami for a celebratory vacation.

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