Tips for a Happy Holiday Home Sale

After the hottest summer home-buying season on record, the Oahu real estate market is beginning to return to its typical seasonal pattern as we head into the winter months. However, even as sales are dipping slightly from the summer peak, buyer demand remains strong — with record-high bid-ups and record-low days on market. With comparatively fewer homes for sale in the winter months and pent-up demand from buyers, there are several advantages for sellers who list their homes over the holidays.

Less competition from other sellers

Historically, December has the fewest homes for sale of any month — about 10% less than the average month. Fewer homes for sale means fewer choices for homebuyers, which can help your home to stand out from the springtime crowd — especially if it’s a unique or challenging home. If yours is the only home for sale on the block or in the building (as long as it’s properly priced), you won’t have to worry about other sellers undercutting your price either.

Serious buyers

Another benefit to listing your home over the holidays is that you’ll likely attract serious buyers who are ready to act. Most people who don’t need to move during the winter months will typically wait until after the holidays have passed to begin their home search. This narrows the pool of December home shoppers to those who are serious about getting into a new home as soon as possible, due to a job relocation, an expiring lease or an offer on their current home. These buyers could be looking to get a year-end tax break by purchasing before December 31, too.

Quicker sales

More serious buyers, coupled with year-end tax breaks, add up to quicker sales, too. Buyers are often able to get loan approval more quickly in December than in the spring and summer months, when lenders are busier. “Lenders usually have more bandwidth in December to process and underwrite loans, which can mean faster approvals and more efficient loan transactions,” explains Jay Miller, mortgage loan originator at Compass Home Loans.

Holiday homes sparkle

Sellers can also dress up their homes during holiday open houses and showings to appeal to buyers’ sentimentality. A tastefully decorated home can tug at the heartstrings of prospective homebuyers — as long as you don’t go overboard. A smaller tree with traditional white lights and uniform ornaments can lend a festive glow to your living room — just be sure it doesn’t obstruct a path through the room or hide the home’s features. A simple evergreen wreath and simmering apple cider on the stove can also help to make a home feel cozy and inviting.

Challenges for holiday sellers

While there are many benefits to listing your home for sale during the holiday season, there are some challenges, too. Holiday home sellers will need to be flexible — showing requests may come up at inopportune times and presents may need to be stored elsewhere (like in a secured office or at a family member’s home). A full-time, experienced Realtor® can design a marketing plan that will target motivated buyers and help to stage your home with just the right amount of holiday magic.