December is a busy month. Everyone is buying Christmas presents, attending holiday parties, and looking forward to some much-needed time off from their jobs. However, December in real estate is a special month. It can be good or bad depending on what you need to get accomplished. Below I am going to give you some December real estate advice.  

December sellers are motivated

People who list real estate in December are usually pretty motivated to sell as it is the worst time to find a buyer. No one would plan to list their home in December unless they have a terrible realtor who suggested it, or they are in a circumstance where they can’t wait until January.

Fewer people are looking for a home in December

Listings do go down in December, but many buyers also take a break during the holiday season. So while the overall number of homes available might be lower, you also have less competition looking. This will give you an edge to find a cash-flowing property.

December is a great month to haggle on price

People typically look at the end of the year as a time to wrap things up. If they have their home listed for sale, it can be the right time to come to them with a lower but fair offer to see if they accept. This allows them to move on to their next purchase and you to get a good deal on a home.

If you’re looking to rent you can find a deal in December

Landlords don’t like their property sitting empty. Some are desperate to find tenants. Most tenants don’t want to move around the holidays, so if you don’t mind you may be able to find a deal around this time of year on an apartment to rent.

Don’t End Your Lease in December

As a landlord, you never want a lease that ends in December, as it is hard to find tenants. If someone moves in in December give them a longer lease term so you can end the lease in mid-January or the first of February.