Everyone loves the holiday season. Spirits are high, there’s a sense of excitement in the air, and we all tend to get at least a little bit of very deserved time away from work. However, while the holidays are a time of year where people are meant to slow down and business matters kept to a minimum, the real estate industry tends to take a different approach.

While real estate transactions certainly do slow down around the holidays, this time of year actually presents a very good opportunity for motivated buyers (and their agents) to spend some time and effort searching for new homes.

And it makes perfect sense — what better season is there than this to settle into a new home and start making it your own? So, if you’ve been considering setting out on your very own new home hunt, read through our list of reasons below why it’s a good idea to start now.

‘Tis The Seasonality Of Real Estate

We’ve been speaking quite a bit in recent weeks — primarily in our monthly market updates — about the newfound sense of stability in our local Utah real estate markets, which wasn’t the case around this time last year.

Flashback to the holiday season a year ago and Utah’s frantic real estate market was still as temperamental as ever. House prices were increasing exponentially, there were outright wars over homes between large numbers of competing buyers (regularly in the double-digits), and the inventory of properties available was diminishing fast.

This year, Utah’s real estate market this holiday season has (thankfully) returned to a more predictable pace. While that has resulted in a slowdown in the number of sales compared to last year, that doesn’t mean the market is weaker.

In fact, the market is returning to its normal seasonal rhythm, and that means it’s much easier for a wider range of buyers to complete transactions whereas this time last year, they wouldn’t even have been able to get a look-in. This year, it’s pretty safe to say the seasonal flow of real estate is back — for the time being, at least.

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Less Competition Between Buyers

While most winter real estate markets — especially during the holiday season — tend to be a little bit less action-packed than the spring or autumn markets, for example, that isn’t necessarily a bad thing for buyers.

Yes, there may be fewer active listings to choose from, but the competition between buyers at this time of year is far, far lower than in others. In Utah, if you’re willing to put your hat and coat on and venture out to see a few homes during the winter months, your efforts will be greatly appreciated by those trying to sell.

Not only will sellers take you much more seriously than if they had multiple buyers eager to see their homes, but they’ll likely also be more willing to negotiate with you in order to find a deal that works for everyone involved.

On the selling side of things, those listing their homes over the holidays also tend to be happier that there are fewer competing listings to worry about too. That means the holidays are a great time for everyone trying to ring in the new year celebrating a successful real estate transaction.

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• Should I Move To Salt Lake City In 2021?
• Best Neighborhoods In Salt Lake City To Invest In
• Salt Lake City Community Guide

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More Time To Find “The One”

Of course, being home for holidays usually means buyers have more time on their hands than usual. And while we’re big advocates of taking things easy and enjoying a glass of Eggnog or three this time of year, if you’re not fully comfortable with your current living situation, more time at home isn’t always as relaxing as it’s chalked up to be.

If that’s the case with you, then it’s only a matter of time until you’ll find yourself wandering over to online real estate listings pages and fantasizing about what a new home could do for you. So why not make the most of this extra time at your disposal and actually act on those holiday wishes for a more suitable home?

One of the most precious gifts we receive over the holidays is some extra time off. So, if you’re finding that having the whole family home at the same time is revealing some glaring downfalls your current home has, you should use that extra time to your advantage.

Whether you need more space, more family-friendly functionality, or more seats around your dining room table, the holidays will grant you much more clarity about what you want in a new home. Use that to your advantage, tailor your home search accordingly, and get out and look for a more appropriate home.

Is more space the main item on your new home wish list? If you want to upsize, make sure you read our related post, Move-Up Buyers: What To Consider Before Buying Your New Home, targeted specifically to helping buyers like you.