The Best Time to Buy a House

Real estate is seasonal. Certain times of the year are busier than others, and that impacts pricing, availability of properties, and the overall conditions you’ll encounter as a homebuyer.

If you’re considering purchasing a home, understanding these seasonal trends can help you more effectively achieve your goals. Here’s what you need to know.

Why Is Real Estate Seasonal?

A number of factors drive real estate’s ebb and flow, including school schedules, weather, and even local tourism activity. 

School Schedules

Karen Parnes, a real estate broker and owner of Maryland-based NextHome Your Way, told The Balance via email that school is the main reason people buy, sell, and move.

“In general, the school season dictates the supply and demand, and therefore the seasonality of the real estate market,” Parnes said. “A large portion of buyers want to be settled in by the time school starts.”

Weather

Weather can play a role, too. Buyers and sellers tend to be more active in the warmer months, with demand on both sides slowing down as the weather cools—especially in areas with more extreme winter weather.

“If you are in a cold-weather environment, you might find that the real estate market shuts down for the most part,” Yawar Charlie, a real estate agent based in Los Angeles, told The Balance via email. “It’s physically not conducive to show homes in the dead of winter."

Charlie also says weather plays a role in how a home can be marketed. Snow and other winter-weather conditions pose problems for photography, home tours, and more.

Tourism

Local tourism trends can factor in as well, depending on the market. This is a common theme for Mary Lou Wertz, founder of Maison Real Estate in Charleston, South Carolina. According to Wertz, Charleston sees its strongest real estate markets in spring and fall, thanks to increased tourist activity.

“At least in Charleston, early spring and early fall see the best weather and most cultural events,” Wertz told The Balance via email. “People tend to list their homes during these times to ensure the most exposure and potential interest.“

In low-tourism times, Wertz said sellers tend to get more flexible with pricing to accommodate slower demand.

The Best Time to Buy for a Good Deal

Generally speaking, you’ll get the best pricing if you buy in the winter. An analysis from the Journal of Housing Research shows that, historically, housing prices are lowest in the colder part of the year—specifically, the first and fourth quarters.

“The best time to find a deal on a home is in the winter months—especially during the holidays,” Kristina Morales, a real estate agent in Houston, told The Balance via email. “During this time, buyers will have the least amount of competition when making offers on properties. This reduction in competition will help buyers purchase a home at better prices."

Conversely, buying in spring or summer comes with a premium. The month of May, in particular, is a costly time to buy a home. Zillow’s data shows that, in some areas, early May home purchases command $2,000 more than other times of the year.

“When I get asked ‘What's the best time to be looking to buy real estate?’ my answer is, ‘When others aren't,’” Domingo Perez, Jr., a real estate agent with New York City-based Warburg Realty, told The Balance via email. “Think January and February, when it's cold, damp, and bitter outside, or August when the humidity level is as high as sellers' humility. You'll have less competition and sellers will be much more open to negotiating because they'll think you're either crazy or dead serious to be out in this weather, particularly if their home has sat through the fall season without an offer.”

The Best Time to Buy if You Want Options

Housing inventory tends to be at its highest levels in the spring and summer months—particularly May, June, and July. This is when you’ll find the most options as a buyer, perhaps because families are looking to sell when school is out for the summer.

“There’s more inventory in the spring because sellers are incentivized,” Sissy Lappin, a real estate agent in Houston, told The Balance via email. “From the seller’s perspective, the chances are higher they will have their home sold quickly and with less negotiating on price.”

“In the spring and summer months there is a lot of activity which equates to a lot of competition,” Morales said. “When there is competition for homes, this could result in bidding wars that drive prices up.” 

Best Day and Week to Buy a Home Overall

If you’re looking for a good combination of the above factors—affordable pricing, solid inventory levels, and lower competition—data from the National Association of Realtors pins early fall as the best time to buy. The first week of October is the best single week to buy a house, offering 18% less competition than other weeks of the year, according to the research. The third week of September is also a smart time to buy in some metro areas, according to the analysis.

If you want a specific day, ATTOM Data Solutions shows December 26—the day after Christmas—as the absolute best day to buy. Buyers save about $2,500 by purchasing a home on this day. Other days on the list include December 1, 4, 7, 21, and 29.

Other Strategies for Timing Your Purchase

Ultimately, real estate is local, so while some seasons may be the best time to buy in one region, it might not be as smart in another. Because of this, it’s important to talk to a local real estate agent about seasonal trends in your specific area.