By Vickie Perry

There is a belief that springtime is the best time to purchase a home, but, as you know, there are always exceptions to the rules. In my opinion, there’s no time like the present to purchase a home. Why do I say that? Typically housing activity slows down during December through February and this is something a buyer can capitalize on.

The benefits to a buyer shopping for a home during the holiday season are many. The first benefit may involve the sales price of a particular home.

There are fewer people shopping for a home this time of year, therefore less competition.Less competition means you might not have as many offers to compete with.This time of year a seller might not have the luxury of receiving multiple offers which allows a homebuyer to offer a lesser price than what they would have in a competitive bid process.

Sellers who have their home on the market during the holiday season tend to be the ones needing to sell for a specific reason. This offers a homebuyer even more leverage.A seller who needs to sell is typically more willing to negotiate on the sales price as well as the closing costs and pre-paid items. A general rule of thumb is if a homebuyer offers less than a full asking price, the sellers might not be willing to negotiate on the closing costs.Inversely, a homebuyer offers to pay full price might be in a position to ask the sellers to cover all or a portion of the closing costs. The important thing to remember is it is all negotiable…. especially this time of year.

Mortgage professionals are typically a bit slower during the holidays.This means a homebuyer can receive more personalized attention. An experienced, reputable lender will review your current and future housing goals and formulate a plan that helps a homebuyer to achieve their objectives. If your mortgage professional isn’t willing to take the time to sit down and discuss the various options available, find a different lender.

Interest rates are also appealing this time of year. With rates still being close to record lows homebuyers have a higher purchasing power. The higher the interest rate, the less a homebuyer can afford. A licensed mortgage professional is key to ensuring you have the right loan program and interest rate specifically suited to your situation.A 15 year fixed rate program might be ideal for one homebuyer but might not be ideal for another.

Of course, there are many reasons a homebuyer might have for purchasing a home this time of year. The reasons might involve some of the above or it could simply be to have a warm, cozy home to enjoy with friends and family. Now, sit back, grab a cup of cocoa and look through your local home listings to see what might catch your eye. Then, give your local mortgage professional a call to discuss how they can help bring you Home for the Holidays.

Vickie Perry (#AK195996 / #AK167729) is Branch Manager of Residential Mortgage, LLC, in Juneau. She can be reached at (907) 789-2329. Visit her website at www.vickieperry.com.