Buying or Selling a Home in Winter: What You Need to Know
Nobody buys or sells a home in the winter. Right? Wrong! In fact, if you checked the numbers, you’d find that a good chunk of home purchases happen during the coldest months of the year. Besides, many southern regions aren’t all that affected by the change in seasons. But even if you live up north, homes are still getting bought and sold despite icy roads and snow-covered roofs.
For us nerds who want the stats, over a million homes get sold in the winter every year. In fact, existing home sales (not including new builds) were in the 350,000–515,000 range per month from December 2021 to February 2022, while the spring and summer months of 2022 saw homes selling at 450,000–525,000 per month from March through August.1 In other words, the amount of homes that are bought and sold in the winter is nothing to sneeze at.
So, if you’re wondering if you should put off buying or selling a home until spring, why wait? You may be surprised to learn that there are actually advantages to buying or selling while Jack Frost is nipping at your nose.
What are the advantages? You’re about to find out! READ MORE
The Benefits of Selling Your Home in the Winter
There is no shortage of advice and opinions when it comes to buying and selling homes. Sometimes these opinions are based on perceptions that sound good but don’t relate to real-world experience. One such opinion is the conventional wisdom that says selling a home in the winter season is a bad idea. There are actually benefits to selling your home in the winter that you may not realize.
While it might not be as ideal as warmer months for reasons that have more to do with convenience and comfort, homes do sell in the winter and a case can be made that it is actually the best time to sell.
Winter Buyers Are Serious and Motivated
6 Reasons Why Winter Is Actually the Most Chill Time to Buy a Home
When the weather outside is frightful, trudging door to door to look at houses might seem like a fool’s errand. Everybody knows spring and summer are the home-buying seasons, and winter is the time when you—and sellers—cool it for a bit and take a break, right?
While it’s true that things do slow down in the winter, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Yes, it’s cold. Yes, fewer homes are for sale. Yes, moving in a snowstorm is a pain no one should experience. But there are quite a few darned smart reasons to buy a home in the winter. In fact, we’d argue that this might even be the best time to buy a home—if you can. Here’s why.
1. There’s less competition
Not everyone’s willing to look at homes in single-digit temperatures. The months of May, June, July, and August make up 40% of existing-home sales, while January and February account for less than 6%.
For sellers, that’s not-so-hot news. But buyers should rejoice.
Ralene Nelson, REALTOR®
OPEN HOUSE – Saturday 1-3pm
689 Waterwood Dr, Rio Vista
2 bed/2 bath/1,837sqft/5,436sqft lot
689 Waterwood Dr, Rio Vista[/caption] $585,000 – Breathtaking views as you step into this beautiful home, located on the 11th green & pond. Popular Reflect model with quartz counters, white cabinets, 5 burner gas stove top & refrigerator are included. Tile floors with carpet in bedrooms. A double-sided gas fireplace makes for a cozy den & living room. The primary bath has double sinks with a walk-in shower with w/bench seating. Shutters throughout the home. Walk out either slider onto the covered patio that is the full length of the home. Small piece of turf for your pet, low maintenance landscape (front & back) & fenced. The backyard is lovely & a great place for a BBQ. Washer/dryer are included & there’s a laundry tub in the garage. Prepaid solar lease, transferrable to the buyer for the remaining years of the lease. Just bring your furniture and enjoy all the amenities, such as 2 swimming pools/spas, bocce ball courts, tennis & pickle ball courts, horseshoes, billiards, a library, a computer room, etc. So many activities to enjoy, you can be as busy as you want or idle. There is a club for just about all your hobbies. READ MORE
OPEN HOUSE – Saturday 1-3pm
FOR SALE – 404 Riverwood Ln. Rio Vista,
2bd/2bth/1391sqft
$445,000 – Big Sur model & no rear neighbors!! Located in the Active Adult Community, Trilogy. Relax in this lovely backyard & watch the wild life. 2 bedrooms/2 full baths and den with double doors. Both master bedroom and den have bay windows that provides a more open feeling. Master bath has walk in shower & closet, double sinks, white tile counters, Dark kitchen cabinets, Corian counters w/tile backsplash, black appliances & tile floor. Stove is electric, however, is plumbed for natural gas. The dining area overlooks the backyard. Patio with all weather cover, great for BBQ in the rain. Garage has storage cabinets. Just bring your furniture and enjoy the activities, tennis, bocce, new gym, 2 pools & spas. READ MORE
FOR SALE – 718 Allender Wy. Rio Vista,
3 bd/2 bth/1346sf
$539,999 – Gorgeous home, shows pride of ownership, and has been renovated since purchased. 3 bedrooms & 2 baths with all new flooring/baseboards, interior paint, light fixtures, etc. The kitchen has newly painted cabinets with quartz countertops with an island. Auxillary electric heaters in 3rd bedroom & living room. Whole house water filter with under-the-sink reverse osmosis. The front yard has been totally relandscaped with a new walkway to the front door, with drought-resistant landscaping, a drip system & timer. The driveway extended as well as the sidewalk to the backyard. The backyard has a sprinkler system as well as a patio. Just bring your furniture and enjoy!! Rio Vista is a quaint town located on the Sacramento River, close to SF, Sacramento & bay area. READ MOREOPEN HOUSE – Sunday 1:30-3:30pm
FOR SALE – 295 Sage Meadows Dr. Rio Vista
3bed/3.5bath/2,367sqft/6,669sqft lot
$559,000 – Calistoga model, with private courtyard, located on a corner lot. New interior paint (including garage) & tile/grout cleaned, gives this home a fresh look. Island kitchen with granite tile, black appliances, w/5 burner gas stove top & maple cabinets. Open floor plan makes this a great home for entertaining & the fireplace makes it cozy. Large master bedroom has bay window, upgraded tile in bath (walk in shower & tub). Den has been enclosed as well as another room, so this could be 4 bedrooms. One can be your den, other can be your craft/sewing room. 2nd bedroom has full bath, with courtyard entrance. Laundry room has sink, cabinets & folding space. Full patio & fencing secures this backyard for your family pet. Trilogy offers many amenities, from tennis, bocce, billards, pickle ball, golf, 2 pools & spas and even playground for grandchildren. Just bring your furniture & make new friends.READ MOREFOR SALE – 1536 Michigan St. Fairfield
3 bed/2 bath/1,260sqft/4,792sqft lot
$475,000 – This is a great starter or retirement home, close to shopping, Hwy 80 & Amtrack & perfect home for a commuter. This 3 bedroom & 2 bath home has new interior paint, carpets, laminate flooring, light fixtures, dual pane windows, tankless water heater & newer roof & air condenser. Master bath has new vanity & flooring. Kitchen has new flooring, appliances, stainless sink, painted cabinets, & resurfaced counter tops. Home has a large family room, perfect for entertaining. Patio is the length of home. Although 1 car garage, home has carport for at least 2 cars & RV parking on side. Larger lot & drought resistant front yard & shed. Just bring your furniture, home is move in ready. READ MOREEvents in Northern California this Weekend
Very Merry Craft and Gift Fair, Vacaville
Ulatis Community Center, 1000 Ulatis Dr, Vacaville, CA
Over 75 vendors will be selling handmade holiday items, food vendors will be serving holiday-themed treats and local live entertainment is planned for both days. More holiday-themed fun to be announced. “It’s so exciting to bring a giant, classic holiday craft fair to this side of town,” says event producer Brooke Fox.
Admission to the Very Merry Craft and Gift Fair is FREE. The event takes place in the Ulatis Center Parking Lot and is 100% outdoors. Well-behaved dogs on leash are welcome in designated areas. Parking is available onsite. The event is currently accepting Arts & Crafts vendors with a preference for handmade items made by crafters from Solano and Yolo counties. For more vendor info, visit www.UptownFox.com, email Vendors@UptownFox.com or call 917-586-4064. This event is rain or shine. READ MORE
Lodi Gun Expo
Sat, Nov 19, 9 AM – Sun, Nov 20, 5 PM
Lodi Grape Festival Grounds, 413 E Lockeford St, Lodi, CA
The Lodi Gun Expo will be held at Lodi Grape Festival Grounds and hosted by California Gun Shows LLC. All state, local and federal firearm laws apply.
READ MORE
Kickin it at Wild West- West Sacramento Fall Festival
Sat, Nov 19, 12 – 5 PM
Wild West Feed Pets and Supplies, 3030 W Capitol Ave, West Sacramento
Dog Adoption Event
Fall Festival
West Sac & Sac Vendors with crafts for sale
Raffle
Carnival Games
BBQ FOOD by Kick n Mule
DJ Sizzle
Proceeds will be donated to local animal rescue READ MORE
Toy and Collectable Show, Concord
Sat, Nov 19, 11 AM – Sun, Nov 20, 5 PM
Concord High School, 4200 Concord Blvd, Concord, CA
Concord Toy and collectable show is the newest and largest toy show in the area. This show will be even big than our previous shows. With over 100 vendors in 2 buildings we will have everything from Hot Wheels and Action Figures to Pokémon and Funko Pops plus so much more. We are going to be adding even more to this event that you don’t want to miss out on.
As always tickets are available at the door for only $5. We accept Cash, Venmo and Credit cards. Kids 10 &under always get in free
Vendor spaces are available but they fill up fast. READ MORE