The Days Are Getting Longer

Winter can be a beautiful time of year, mostly when the trees are covered with a fresh blanket of snow. One of the downsides to winter is the shorter hours of sunlight. At the winter solstice, we receive about nine hours of daylight. At the summer solstice, we enjoy a little over 15 hours of sun.

A sure sign that spring is coming is the ever-increasing daylight. Suddenly, it seems we have broken out of the winter darkness and can start to notice the longer days with great anticipation. Interestingly, the real estate market follows roughly the same pattern. The slowest time of the year is winter, of course. People are hesitant to move their possessions in the frigid, snowy winter.

Likewise, touring new homes is not as attractive at this time of year either, and yet, just like daylight, there are still some sales happening. In spring and summer, the pace quickens dramatically. The busiest days generally run from early spring to mid-summer. After summer, just like our daylight, the real estate market starts to wind down again.

Sometimes I am asked,

“When is the very best time of year to sell my house?”

My usual answer is “Whenever it is most convenient for you.” I want to point out that about 95% of buyers begin searching for a new home online from the comfort of their cozy home. In-person showing activity picks up quickly as the weather warms and the days get longer. If I were selling my home, I would want to offer my home on the market in early spring to be ready for the surge of buyers that will inevitably arrive just like the crocuses.

Jonathan R. Krause President

Gambino Realtors