Low inventory = less competition
During the winter months, especially January and February, there are fewer homes for sale. Right now, as of January 2022, there are 38 000 properties listed for sale on MLS in the province of Quebec. In pre-pandemic times, there were usually 100 000 MLS listings to choose from. This historical low inventory can make winter an ideal time to sell your home.
Simple math: the law of supply and demand!
Show how cozy your home is in winter!
Highlight how well your home is designed to handle the harsh elements. How can one resist the coziness of a beautiful fireplace or a Nordic hot tub?
Sellers can show off features like a south-facing driveway to speed up snow melting, how snow falls from the roof, how a short driveway will minimize shovelling, how the sunlight on the white snow brightens the living areas, how ultra comfortable those heated floors are and how the new furnace keeps the home toasty warm.
Serious and qualified buyers in winter
Mostly only serious and qualified buyers visit during winter. They are looking to make a purchase and don’t want to take a chance on losing a great home by delaying until warmer months.
Since more homes tend to go on the market in Spring and Fall, this is also when window shoppers are likely to be out looking but not necessary buying.
Threat of increased mortgage rates
With inflationary pressure, there is constant talk of increasing interest rates. What impact will these increases have on the real estate market? Opinions differ but serious buyers are looking to lock in their mortgage rates quickly to avoid the cost of higher rates.