It’s chilly and rainy season out there!  With the beginning of the cooler and wetter season, it’s also time for the real estate market season to change. I’m not one of those believers in the “things shut down in the fall and don’t pick up until spring,” mantra when it comes to the Dallas-Fort Worth real estate market.  I’ve seen too many slow summers and booming winters to believe in that adage.

Home Shopping in The Snow

In other areas of the country with four distinctive seasons, that mantra might ring true.  Can you imagine shopping for houses in Minnesota, South Dakota, or Idaho in the middle of the winter season?  No thank you!

We are truly blessed to live in a state that has golf-playing, shorts-wearing weather about 340 days a year.  The temperate climate allows for homes to be listed and shown pretty much year-round. However, there is a slowdown around November — and it doesn’t always have to do with the weather.

From Halloween until just after January many of us are bombarded with parties, festivals, end-of-school productions, travel, shopping, eating too much, and more.  The holidays are always a blur and many homebuyers tend to put their search on hold until the beginning of the coming year.

Wheelin’ And Dealin’ Season

If you are a home shopper that has flexibility and patience, this time of year can be an absolute bonanza for you when it comes to getting a deal on a home. Homes that are on the market during this time of year typically need to sell.  With fewer active buyers out there, many sellers are willing to negotiate a little more with a realistic offer.

It only makes sense. Fewer buyers, increasing inventory throughout the region, strong interest rates, chilly temperatures, sellers needing to get a contract — all of these conditions make for good deals!

Make sure you reach out to new home builders as well.  Especially the companies that have shareholders to answer to for the year. They will do just about anything to get you into a home closing before the end of the year.

Not Lowball Season

While getting “a deal” is always important to buyers, definitely do not over-play your hand.  Yes, sellers are more willing to negotiate in this season, but that doesn’t mean a silly lowball offer.

Lowball offers only cause one emotion: anger.  Whether it’s right or not, sellers take offense to a substantially lower offer, and that anger might sway them to not even make a counteroffer.

No one likes to think they’re being taken advantage of when it comes to a large and emotional transaction.  No one likes to think they “lost” a negotiation.  Work with your trained real estate sherpa to put together an appropriate but lower offer.

If you have success stories or anecdotes relating to this topic, I’d love to hear from you — share your story.

Well, that’s all we have from this week’s  Tarrant County Tuesday, Dirty Readers.  Thanks for reading and following and sharing! As always, if you have questions, comments or great ideas for a post … hit me up!

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Seth Fowler is a licensed Real Estate Sales Professional for Williams Trew Real Estate in Fort Worth, TX.  Statements and opinions are his and his alone.  Seth has been involved with the home sales and real estate industry in the Fort Worth area since 2004.  He and his family have lived in the area for over 17  years.  Seth also loves bow ties!  You can reach Seth at: 817.980.6636 or [email protected].  If you are looking for a Real Estate Sherpa to help you buy or sell … give Seth a call!