It’s official. The real estate market has heated up just as the weather is getting cooler. Consumer confidence is up and people are feeling the urge to hightail it from the lingering desert heat to enjoy our special mile-high setting.
Many people will tell you one goal is to sell the home during the prime selling season and receive the highest price and best sale terms. But here in the northlands, the actual numbers prove that any time is the right time. In a 10-year review of the Prescott Area MLS, the actual seasonality of closed homes sold is as follows: First Quarter = 20.46 percent; Second Quarter = 26.86 percent; Third Quarter = 28.87 percent; and, Fourth Quarter = 24.61 percent, as the chart shows.
Any time during the year is a great time to buy or sell in the Prescott area. In fact, because there are currently fewer listings, your home would get even more attention on the market. Selling in the spring and moving in the summer is preferred by families who like to get ready for the new school year, but winter listings are advantageous, with fewer looky-loos and more serious buyers seeking a quick closing. Remember, staging your home during these winter months with holiday cheer adds charm to help homes sell. Nostalgia is a great opportunity for adding a little wonderland to the winter chill.
Ultimately, your home sale should be timed with your relocation into your new home and at your convenience. Discussing this with your real estate agent is important. Your required date of relocation will determine the optimal time when your home should be placed on the market.
So, are you ready to buy or sell? A great place to start is calling Realty Executives of Northern Arizona, with nine separate offices represented by 130 real estate professionals. Check the current listings in Northern Arizona at www.realtyexecutivesaz.com. QCBN
Don Bonnell is the broker and owner of Realty Executives of Northern Arizona.