Something that comes up fairly often in conversations with people looking to Buy or Sell property is the commonly held notion that the Spring is the best time to buy or sell real Estate. It’s not a particularly harmful misconception to have which is why it’s low on this list of real estate myths. The short of it is that this is the busiest time of year for real estate activity, there are more Buyers out there and there are more Sellers as well. They seem to pretty much balance each other out as a rule. For both sides of the equation, there is more competition for the type of sale that you are looking for.

That’s really all you need to know but I am detail oriented (aka anal) so I’ll unpack this a little and make a list of points that add up to the dynamic described above. They are separate thoughts for the most part but they do ultimately combine into the broader picture.

• The only time of year I gently try to get clients to avoid is when Sellers want to list a property sometime between November and sometime in January. The holidays makes people forget about real estate for the most part for a few months there. Few Buyers are active, and the ones who are, aren’t generally in a serious state of mind about taking action. Granted there are a lot less listings as well as Seller’s want to focus on the holidays too so there is some balance built in. There are of course exceptions, like how in the winters of 2016 and 2017 the market was so crazy that the market kept pumping through the holidays.

• As a Buyer there is a certain logic to wanting to see a wider variety of homes which is what is out there in the spring. Thing is, they are getting snatched up quickly so I’m not sure if the end result is better or not. One thing I can certainly say about Buyer’s is that they want time to think about this giant decision and I’m not sure if any market really gives them as much time to do that as they want because the best deals go fast in any market.

• Homes look their best in the spring. Everything is lush and the flowers are out.

• Us Realtors make most of our money in the spring. In other words, we are busy busy busy for a few months there. Part of what a decent Realtor does is to make time and take the time for each client’s needs. That said, sometimes we get a client who needs a lot more time and attention than others, and that dynamic is going to work a whole lot better if we aren’t put in a position of having to choose which client is going to be a more fruitful use of our time. Remember, we are only paid for our successful sales, not by the hour and there are only so many hours in the day.

• Some people want to avoid doing sales in the summer because so many people who handle things like the financing, or conveyancing or  what have you are away. I say build this thinking into the contract and allow slightly longer subject removal dates and completion dates.