When should I buy or sell?

As a Realtor I am constantly asked this question......."when is the best time to buy or sell". There is only one answer: When you need to buy or sell. If you are buying for recreation the answer is a bit different. Since you may not be time pressured your search can go a bit longer or you may even want to capitalize on the seasons. For instance someone seeking land might very well want to buy in the Winter. Why? Because you can see everything....where the neighbors are, deer sign, trails, water access points, where to make a driveway, the best views, potential building sites, etc. When summer rolls around searching for land is trickier. Everything is grown in and the horse flies can be relentless in some parts of the state (Adirondacks especially). Spring can inundate you with black flies and the land can be really wet.....making it a bit harder to get around - especially if it's remote. Late fall and early winter are really the best times to look at land. However, that contradicts with most outdoors people's desire to hunt, camp, etc. 

Many of my buyers want hunting properties and they want them in the summer so they can prep the land, set up ladder stands, ground blinds, work on trails, maybe start a food plot, etc. But maybe a better idea would be to look in winter (yes, I know there is less inventory in Winter) and then buy in early Spring so you can go full bore with all your plans in late Spring, all Summer and into the Fall. 

If there is a structure like a cabin, house or anything you can live in the answer to "when should I buy?" is even trickier. I'll write a separate post about things you need to consider, but timing can be very important if improvements are in your plans. Frozen conditions can be a real challenge to work in - especially is this is a weekend warrior kind of project. Also if there is as cabin or house is it heated? By what means? Electric? Water? Toilet? Oh, so many things to think about.....again that'll be my next post.

So you sellers out there are likely thinking about the best time to sell.  My answer is very simple. Now. Sell now. And I mean ASAP! Why you ask? Because interest rates are at historic lows! Buyers that can finance a property will be willing to pay a bit more then normal as the rates are so low their monthly payments will be low as a result. If the property is not financeable its ok - there are LOTS of people flush with cash right now. It may not seem like it when you watch the news but have you seen the stock market performance???? The rich are getting richer and richer and richer and  buying real estate like mad right now. So if you are even remotely thinking of selling - call me. I advertise to these people.  

There is no better time of year to sell then right now - right when rates are low and inventory is incredibly low! It's really hard to find anything to buy right now and most agents have 5 or even 10 buyers for every listing......so now is the time.