Mixing back-to-school season with listing your house for sale might seem counterintuitive, but in our local market, August and September are typically two of the hottest months in the real estate market.
For starters, most families with school aged children are back in town. Have you ever noticed how much quieter it is downtown and on the thoroughfares in July? Many of our local residents leave town for a good part of July, focused on travel. The days in August and September are still long and warm, offering ideal conditions for presenting and showing a home in its best light, when potential home buyers are back on schedule and back in town.
Another reason that the market stays strong in August and September is that many home buyers had a different home that they needed to sell first, before buying their next one, creating a second (albeit smaller) wave of qualified new home buyers, a bit later in the year.
Even though school is back in session, August tends to still have a slightly more relaxed schedule. Those without children at home may
still be in full summer mode, and families with children don’t usually have the heavy sports, tutoring and other extracurricular activities in full swing until September or October.
For home sellers, there is also the benefit of bringing a house to market at a time of the year when there are fewer competitors for a buyer’s attention. The inventory of homes for sale often drops quickly this time of year, and buyers are quick to check out anything new that hits the market. Sellers have the advantage of attracting buyers who envision being settled into their new home, before the start of the winter holiday season.
Every home sale is unique. Please feel free to reach out to me at 925-964-5010 or via email at Lisa.Hopkins@Compass.com with questions or for a custom analysis and consultation. Even if you’re not planning to move, I’m happy to help by providing you with relevant data, enabling you to make a well informed decision. It’s never too early to start planning for success!
