Learn why the winter may be the best time for home selling in this U.S. News & World Report article by Devon Thorsby. Spring and summer are traditionally the busiest seasons for home buying, which leads to a lot of stressful competition. Now that the market has settled down, it is actually a great time to put your home on the market for the right homebuyers who are already looking.
You’ve got plans to sell your home, but as you approach the year, waiting until spring seams like tortures. The house is already prepped, and you’re eyeing a new house you’d like to buy. So why wait?
You don’t have to. Spring may be the strongest home-selling season, but that doesn’t mean selling your home at any other time of year is impossible, even in the chilly winter months.
In fact, selling your home in the winter is getting easier in many parts of the U.S. The median listing price nationwide in February was $274,900, a 10 percent increase from February 2017, according to real estate information company realtor.com.
As housing markets continue to struggle for enough inventory to meet buyer demand and prices continue to rise, serious homebuyers are widening their scope and choosing to shop throughout the year, not just during the warmer months.
“It’s a misnomer that the market doesn’t pick up until late spring,” says Gretchen Rosenberg, president and CEO of Kentwood Real Estate in Denver and a member of the Denver Metro Association of Realtors. She says the Denver area doesn’t see much of a slowdown in winter, and sale prices often hit their peak in winter and early spring – during February, March and April.
As a seller, you can benefit from selling your home during winter rather than having to wait until spring. Lou Nimkoff, president of the Orlando Regional Realtor Association in Orlando, Florida, even recommends putting your home on the market before the end of the year.
“If you’re going to want to sell it in the spring, it’s a good idea to put it on the market in November and December,” he says, because you don’t want to miss out on the right buyer who’s already looking.
The holiday season between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Eve can be tricky for just about any industry other than retail, but even when time constraints mean selling as soon as possible is necessary, there’s no such thing as an impossible time of year to sell. “I’ve sold a house once on Christmas Eve and once on New Year’s Eve,” Rosenberg says.
If you do have options, Rosenberg recommends putting your house on the market either by the first couple of weeks of November or waiting until mid-January.
New Year’s resolutions help many homebuyers get into the house-hunting groove after the first of the year. If you like the idea of marketing your home at the start of 2019, reach out to real estate agents now to be sure you’re making all the right preparations to draw winter homebuyers to your property. That includes maintaining curb appeal to ensure you won’t discover any maintenance disasters during snowfall, such as a leak in the roof or frozen plumbing that causes pipes to burst.
Move in Before the Holidays and Save Big with Close Out Specials at Lennar’s Madeline Heights and Peach Tree Meadows!
Portland, Ore. – October 2018 – There’s no better time than now to find your dream home with incredible close out specials available at Lennar’s Madeline Heights in Tigard and Peach Tree Meadows in southeast Portland. You’re bound to find a home that’s perfect for you and your family across these two beautiful collections of new homes showcasing modern designs, Everything’s Included® features and Lennar’s innovative Next Gen® design. Best of all, with a wide selection of quick move-in homes available for immediate move in, you can be fully settled and ready to host your family this holiday season in your new Lennar home!
“Across these two remarkable communities, homeshoppers can find exceptional value included in their new home along with a vibrant and exciting lifestyle with neighborhoods situated near sought-after recreation and entertainment,” said Sia Howe, Marketing Manager for Lennar Portland. “Remaining homes at both communities won’t last long, so interested buyers are encouraged to stop by and take advantage of these fantastic close out specials including reduced pricing on select homes!”
Situated less than 20 minutes away from downtown Portland, Peach Tree Meadows offers a charming collection of single-family homes ranging in size from approximately 2,016 to 3,216 square feet including three to five bedrooms, two to three and one-half bathrooms and starting from the mid $400,000s. This premier community offers residents the best of both worlds with that enviable, suburban lifestyle, but with convenient access to popular recreation like Powell Butte and Springwater Corridor, as well as easy access to Hwy 26 and I-205.
Madeline Heights enjoys a prime location in Tigard, surrounded by natural beauty and within close proximity to city life and all its offerings, including downtown Portland less than 25 minutes away. Discover a stunning collection of single-family homes offering single- and two-story floorplans ranging in size from approximately 2,832 to 3,180 square feet including three to four bedrooms, two and one-half to three and one-half bathrooms and starting from the mid $500,000s.
Designed for families of every type, these two thoughtful collections boast modern designs including open living areas designed for entertaining, upscale gourmet kitchens, large great rooms, spacious secondary bedrooms, enviable master suites, patios and much more!
For multigenerational or dual living situations, The Bainbridge floorplan available at both communities showcases Lennar’s unique Next Gen® – The Home Within A Home® design. This two-story floorplan offers an attached private suite to provide as much privacy or access between the two homes as desired. The suite offers a comfortable living space with a living area with kitchenette, bedroom with walk-in closet, bathroom, washer/dryer space and its own separate entrance. It’s like having two homes under one roof!
For added value, Lennar’s Everything’s Included® program outfits each new home with popular upgrades and features including quartz slab countertops, stainless steel appliances, Shaker-style cabinetry, air conditioning, home automation technology and much more—all at no additional cost.
Make your move today and save big at Peach Tree Meadows and Madeline Heights. For more information on both new home communities, visit www.LennarPortland.com.
About Lennar
Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of Lennar’s homes and others. Lennar’s Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about Lennar may be obtained at the “Investor Relations” section of Lennar’s website, www.lennar.com.
Ridgefield, Wash. – October 2018 – Outdoor beauty and small-town charm come together effortlessly in the City of Ridgefield located in the pastoral, rolling hills countryside of northern Clark County. Situated only 20 minutes north of Portland which offers world-class amenities, the fast-growing City of Ridgefield is characterized by its strong sense of community, scenic surroundings, family-friendly neighborhoods and parks, an abundance of open land. For homeshoppers interested in calling this nature-filled city their home, Lennar currently offers two new home communities to choose from, Seven Wells Estates and Kennedy Farm.
“We’re very proud to be building quality homes in the beautiful City of Ridgefield where homeshoppers have an incredible opportunity to purchase a brand-new home in a setting where rural meets urban,” said Sia Howe, Marketing Manager for Lennar Portland and SW Washington. “Our neighborhoods are situated in area’s that take advantage of the awe-inspiring scenery Washington is all about and showcase elegant homes boasting modern designs like our multigenerational Next Gen®.”
The Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge is a huge component of the city and was established in 1965 to provide a preserved space and habitat for wildlife. It has become a go-to spot for outdoor recreation like kayaking along the 21-mile long water trail, exploring parks and land trails, fishing, boating and bird scouting. It features a 5,300-acre Refuge that’s became a space for the community to spend time in nature.
When you’re not exploring the great outdoors, Ridgefield’s bustling downtown offers a quaint display of unique shops and boutique restaurants along its tree-lined streets. You’ll leisurely stroll past salons, coffee houses, antique stores, gift shops, a tea-house, historic theater and more. It also provides sweeping views of the Wildlife Refuge and is home to Farmer’s Markets, First Saturdays and summertime’s Tuesdays in the Park. Emphasizing community, the city hosts numerous events throughout the year to help bring neighbors and friends together.
Find the home of your dreams in this majestic city with Lennar. Seven Wells Estates offers a stunning collection of six distinct single- and two-story floorplans ranging in size from approximately 1,897 to 3,422 square feet including three to five bedrooms, two to three bathrooms and starting from the high $400,000s. Kennedy Farm offers two exceptional collections of single- and two-story floorplans ranging in size from approximately 1,574 to 3,180 square feet including three to five bedrooms, two to three bathrooms and starting from the mid $300,000s. Designed for today’s family, floorplans offer open-concept layouts for entertaining, upscale kitchens, outdoor living spaces, first-floor master suites for single-level living, spacious secondary bedrooms and much more.
Both collections offer Lennar’s Next Gen® – The Home Within A Home® floorplan that’s designed to make multigenerational or dual living situations. The floorplan provides a private suite attached to the main home complete with its own living area with kitchenette, bedroom, laundry and bathroom – perfect for elderly parents, returning children, a home office or long-term guest. It’s like having two homes under one roof, so families can live comfortably together without anyone having to sacrifice privacy.
For added value, style and comfort, Lennar’s signature Everything’s Included® program outfits each new home with today’s most desired features and upgrades—luxury countertops, high-quality and upgraded cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, home automation technology and much more come included as standard all at no additional cost. The program now features Lennar’s new Wi-Fi CERTIFIED™ Home Designs that through built-in wireless access points provides homeowners with strong internet coverage throughout for a more connected way of living.
Plus, from now until the end of November, select quick move-in homes at both neighborhoods offer incredible savings. Prospective homeshoppers are encouraged to visit the Welcome Home Centers to tour the model homes and discover their dream home in a picturesque setting. Seven Wells Estates is located at 1604 S. 47th Pl. and Kennedy Farm is located at 4132 S. Kennedy Dr. For more information, please visit www.lennar.com.
About Lennar
Lennar Corporation, founded in 1954, is one of the nation’s leading builders of quality homes for all generations. Lennar builds affordable, move-up and active adult homes primarily under the Lennar brand name. Lennar’s Financial Services segment provides mortgage financing, title insurance and closing services for both buyers of Lennar’s homes and others. Lennar’s Rialto segment is a vertically integrated asset management platform focused on investing throughout the commercial real estate capital structure. Lennar’s Multifamily segment is a nationwide developer of high-quality multifamily rental properties. Previous press releases and further information about Lennar may be obtained at the “Investor Relations” section of Lennar’s website, www.lennar.com.
