Poor Mr. Fall Market, He Gets NO Attention

Everybody talks about the spring market. Almost nobody talks about Fall and I think that’s a mistake!

Every year around Labor Day, I start hearing people say they’ll just wait until spring because “the market slows down.”

Sometimes it does. But what I see every year is something a little different.

The people who were casually browsing homes all summer start focusing on football games, school schedules, and vacations. What’s left are buyers who are serious. They’ve already decided they want to move. Now they’re just looking for the right house. That’s actually good news if you’re selling!

You may have fewer showings than you would in April, but the people walking through your front door are often much more motivated to make a decision.

It’s also a great time to be a buyer! There’s usually less competition, and sellers who’ve been on the market since early summer are often much more open to negotiating than they were a few months ago.

We saw this play out last year.

Rates dipped just a little, and buyers came right back into the market while everyone else assumed things had already slowed down for the year.

That’s why I always tell people not to let the calendar make the decision for them. If it’s the right time for your family to move, then it’s worth looking at what today’s market actually offers instead of waiting for a season everyone else says is “better.”

Here’s what’s happening in our market right now:

📍 New home listings in July: 504 compared to 456 this time last year (up 10.3%)

🏠 Months of Supply: 3.4 months, trending down

🗓️ Average Days on Market: 44 compared to 47 this time last year (down 6.4%)

What I’m Seeing: we have more home inventory but buyers are choosing their new home a little faster than this time last year. With more inventory, buyers have more choices and sellers are negotiating more. This is a balanced market but don’t be fooled - home prices continue to rise 1.3% year over year.

If you’ve been wondering whether this fall might be the right time to make a move, hit reply. I’d be happy to walk through what’s happening in your neighborhood and help you decide what makes the most sense.

Here’s to pumpkin spice sooner than you think!

Jan

Your Union County Family Realtor