The real estate market is cyclical. Sales slow in winter, begin to heat up in spring, and hit their peak in usually late summer or fall. You can see the seasonal flow in the chart below. It is a snapshot of the Southern California real estate market (Orange, LA, Riverside and San Bernardino counties) over the last two years.
The best time to list and sell your home is before the spring rush. March 20th marks the first day of spring and that means you’ve got to kick your little cottontail into gear if you want to take advantage of all the perks of listing early.
Here are 5 reasons it will pay to list your home before spring.
1. Demand is ramping up
As you can see from the chart above, demand is starting to ramp up now that summer is near. And with a slew of new programs to help homebuyers, there are more people than ever eligible to buy.
Listing now while mortgage rates are still low lets you take advantage of all this new buyer activity on the market.
2. There’s less competition – but not for long
According to Trendgraphix, Southern California was at 3.9 months of inventory this January, up from 2.7 months in December. So supply is coming up, however we’re still under the 6 months’ supply that qualifies as a balanced or normal market. This means there are not enough homes for sale on the market to satisfy the number of buyers.
Many homeowners have been waiting for the right time to sell, unable to do so in the last few years because of negative equity. However we’ve seen a return to home values with the improving economy, meaning the market is expecting lots of homes on the market this summer.
Don’t wait until all this other inventory of homes comes to market before you sell.
3. Close your home in a snap!
Sellers usually prefer to close quickly. You’re ready to move so the sooner the paper work is completed and signed the better. Because winter is a slow season in the real estate business, banks can get your buyer’s paperwork approved quicker. Once spring hits so will the delays, so selling now could ensure a much smoother transaction.
4. Movin’ on up never looked so good
If you are ready to move up to a home with more space or more amenities, now is a great time. Prices have come up over the last few years so it’s a great time to cash in on a home sale and put it toward a new home. Plus, we predict for 2015 that home prices will remain stable in SoCal which means that new dream home is ripe for the picking. Not to mention now is a great time of buyers.
The government is now backing low down payment mortgage loans and rates are below 4%. Purchasing a bigger, better home now means you will get the most bang for your buck.
5. Life is calling
The most important factor in determining when to sell is you. It’s easy to be hesitant, waiting or that perfect window to cash out big, but don’t forget that life must go on. You should be in the home you want, living the life you’re ready for. Ultimately when you list your home and hop on the market is up to you and your family.
Only you know when the time is right. When it is, call a First Team agent. With hundreds of area specialists all over Southern California, you can find a local expert near you. You can find an agent online or reach out and we’ll put you in touch with an area specialist in your neighborhood.
Email us at clientservices@firstteam.com
Call us at 888-870-1142
