Winter is rounding up the corner. Soon, we can expect the harsh cold wind and white snow to cover up the outdoors. If you’re planning a home purchase soon, have you considered buying a house during the winter?
Many people would think winter is not the ideal time to buy real estate. Sure, it can be hard to check the neighborhood and inspections can be hard to complete. It can be quite uncomfortable to hunt for houses when you consistently need to take off your boots and layers of clothing only to put them back on before stepping out of the house. But then, house shopping during the cold weather offers lots of attractive perks.
You Have More Free Time to Spend on House Hunting
Most of the time, people have more time to spare during the winter. If you have more time to browse on the internet, spend hours on social media, and go out window shopping, then it only means you have more reasons to start looking for houses for sale in your desired location. If you can find a house that fits your needs, is within your price range and you have time to check it in person, why let the opportunity pass?
You can start by checking online listings. Thanks to the internet, you can do online searches and see if you can find home you want. With today’s technology, you can also take advantage of virtual tours offered by some real estate sites. This allows you to have a virtual look and feel of the place without stepping foot in the property. If some houses for sale left a mark and piqued your interest, then that is the time you can consider contacting the seller and check when you can drop by to see the property in person.
Evaluate the Home in Critical Weather
During winter, you also get to stay inside the house you are interested in buying. Remember that the house has to take in a lot of stress during this season. The HVAC system has to work 24/7 to ensure the home is warm and toasty enough. The fireplace needs to be up and running. You can check if you need to visit a fireplace store and install a new one or if there is a need to maintain or repair the HVAC before buying.
When looking at houses for sale, the sellers will post photos of the house. If the house has been on the market since summer, you get to see the state of the house not just in the summer, but also in the winter. This opens up the opportunity for you to get a closer look and feel of the home during the toughest and coldest weather. You can see how it looks like at its worst, and know what to expect if ever you chose to pursue the home purchase.
There Is Less Competition and Sellers Are Motivated
Not many people are willing to go out of their warm and comfy homes during the winter. This means you have less competition when looking for houses. This gives the seller more time to better accommodate your questions. House 00hunting during the winter months also shows sellers that you are indeed a serious home buyer.
Since there are fewer people who seriously want to buy, sellers are more motivated to close a deal. You can negotiate the house for a better price and if you’re early, you can start the home inspection process even before winter is in full swing. If you are not sure how to negotiate the right way, consider working with a real estate agent.
You Get to Enjoy Tax Breaks
Buying a house enables you to enjoy tax advantages. The kind of tax credits or rebates you can use will depend on your qualifications. Most of the time, first-time home buyers and persons with disabilities, among many others can qualify. Of course, you will need to do this by filing for a tax return.
Some home buyers take advantage of winter home purchases so that they can already get tax benefits before year-end. You can count real estate taxes, PMI or Private Mortgage Insurance, and mortgage interest since all these three are considered tax-deductible. Remember that you can only enjoy these tax benefits if you complete the home purchase before the year ends.
Home buying is made easier thanks to the kind of technology sellers and real estate agents use to market their listings. Did you know that you can also find good movers and negotiate the price because of the chilly weather? Now, even the cold weather can’t stop you from going house hunting and moving homes. You can enjoy these amazing perks if you can afford to pursue a home purchase in winter.