Along with pumpkin spice lattes and flannel shirts, you might want to consider adding buying a home to your list of fall essentials.
According to Sharon Voss, Realtor and president of the Orlando Regional Realtor Association, fall is a great season to buy for these 3 reasons:
1. Less competition
“Fall historically sees a decline in buyer demand that results in a willingness to negotiate among summer’s remaining sellers. However, in seller’s market conditions with limited inventory — like Orlando is currently experiencing — buyers shouldn’t expect big discounts in asking price. On the contrary, buyers need to be ready to make a decision and a solid offer in timely fashion.”
2. More attention from your Realtor
“Homebuyers who are conducting their search during the fall could enjoy additional attention from Realtors as their client load dwindles. Likewise, service providers such as mortgage lenders and title companies are emerging from the summertime sales swamp and can often respond more quickly.”
3. Better deals and year-end tax breaks
“Even buyers who missed the summer rush still have time to purchase and file for homestead by the end of the year. When tax time comes around, homeowners should remember to take advantage of the tax breaks such as:
- Mortgage Interest Deduction
- PMI and FHA Mortgage Insurance Premium Deduction
- Prepaid Interest Deduction
- Property Tax Deduction
- Energy-Efficiency Upgrade Deduction”
And as an added bonus, Voss said “Fall is a lovely time to purchase a new house and get settled in; there is nothing better than a home for the holidays!”
