Winter can sometimes get a bad reputation when it comes to buying or selling a home. After all, the thinking goes, the days are cold and short, and everyone prefers to hunker down until things start to warm up in spring. 

While it’s true that the months of December through February have less homebuying and selling activity than the rest of the year, according to the National Association of Realtors, it doesn’t mean that there’s no activity. Indeed, people still buy and sell during the winter and here are several reasons that make this season a good time to do so. 

Less Competition 

Fewer people in the market during this time of year means less competition for you. There will probably be fewer options available than during the peak season of summer, but if you find a home you like, chances are there will be fewer offers that you’ll have to compete with. This means less of a chance for a bidding war, and more of a chance that your offer will be accepted. 

More Potential Bargains

With fewer people in the market, you might be able to negotiate a better deal on a home you like. Or, for homes that have been on the market for a while, motivated sellers may drop their asking price. 

You Can Learn a Lot About a Home 

Looking at homes during the winter can tell you a lot about how they deal with challenging weather conditions. Are doors and windows noticeably drafty, and need to be replaced? Does the HVAC struggle to keep up? For the more northern climates, does the house appear to have an ice dam issue? These are all questions you probably wouldn’t be able to answer if you were looking at houses during spring, summer or fall. 

Realtor and Mover Availability 

Fewer people buying or selling homes in winter means your realtor could have more time for you than they would during summer. And fewer people moving means it could be easier for you to find a moving company on your schedule. 

Looking for a New Home This Winter? 

If you’re thinking of buying a new home soon, you don’t need to wait until spring! We’d love to help you take advantage of the winter market – contact a loan officer today to start the conversation!

This article appeared in the  Bell Bank Mortgage Winter 2026 Newsletter.

_Sources: 

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