We're getting close to the end of the year, which begs the question of whether it's worthwhile trying to sell your home now. Is it a waste of time? Will it sit on the market and become shopworn? Should I take my house off the market for the holidays? Will the home-sale market be better for sellers in 2012?
The first question you need to ask yourself is: Are you emotionally prepared to sell? Selling is a challenge for most sellers and while the winter months not be most peoples’ idea of a good time to sell, it could be worthwhile. Some areas are shy on inventory of good homes on the market. If so, now could be a good time to sell.
The supply/demand ratio plays a significant role in the health of a local real estate market. No matter what is said about the housing market nationally, it's the local picture that tells the tale in terms of the possibility of selling your home at any given time.
Most sellers don't put their homes on the market during the last or first couple of months of the year. The inventory of homes for sale tends to dwindle during the winter months. So, if there are buyers in your local market, you may be at an advantage selling when most sellers are waiting.
Some sellers feel that if they've waited this long to sell, they should put the process on hold until spring and get the house ready in the meantime. Certainly, it's not a good idea to put your house on the market until it looks great but if you and your house are ready to sell, move ahead.
The market in general tends to slow down over the holidays but rather than pull your house off the market and miss a likely prospect, keep it there and be aware that that is the time when most people have time to browse the likes of MyHome.ie. A sale before year end could be a great holiday gift after all.
There is a lot of pent-up demand, on both the buyer and seller sides. Sellers have been waiting for a better time to sell. Buyers have been waiting for more quality inventory and a sense that prices have bottomed or are close to it. With mortgage relief being cut at the end of this year there may be some activity between now and then. If there is, make sure you’re in a position to benefit.
