[wrrr]

WHEN is the "best" time to search for and purchase a (used) home in Southbury, Oxford or Southington, Connecticut ?? That is, when would we have the best "selection" of homes ??
Living presently in Florida we have "opposite theorys" than Connecticut on when to put a home on the market, for example, a home in a Florida "retirement community" will be best to put on the market around November and never later than March as you want to catch the "SnowBirds", mainly from up north looking for that second home to spend "winters" in Florida. In this case the earlier to November, December is best. I know from what our Connecticut friends tell us, those are the "worse" months up there to look for a home.... selection is next to nothing. Makes sens in a way, as I would assume that "Spring" would be the best time in the New England states to put a home for sale on the market.
Am I somewhat correct or even close in my thinking ??
THANKS !!

[mels]

Spring is the best time just because that is when it seems most people list their homes, that way if they have children they have already moved before the school year starts. Plus homes look nicer when trees are green and flowers are blooming as opposed to the winter when everything is dormant and brown. There is definitely more inventory in the spring than in the winter. However, I started house hunting in CT in November. There was less inventory but not many people are house hunting around the holidays, so you tend to get better prices/better deals since there are more deperate sellers around during the off-peak months. This may not be a general rule but it was my experience. I ended up putting in an offer the day after Christmas, and surprise surprise, mine was the only offer they had seen in recent weeks. There are tons of real estate agents on this board so I am sure one of the pros can give you more insight.

[JayCT]

Mels is correct. The best selection of homes is usually in the Spring to early Summer. This is because people want to move over the summer when the kids are out of school. Makes life a lot easier because people usually have more time then too. I also agree that you get better deals on homes in late Fall and through the winter. Many snowbirds are anxious to head south before the winter hits so they are willing to give a better deal. Also, homes that did not sell over the summer are looking for buyers and there are not nearly as many around.

We bought our home in January and there was a couple of feet of snow burying the landscaping. We relied on what neighbors told us the property looked like in the summer but you really do not know until the warm weather comes. We also got the house for the price we wanted to pay for it and our offer was accepted in one day. Jay

[wrrr]

When you think about it, it's obvious that, like you both replied, "Spring/Summer" is the "best" time to buy in Connecticut with the greatest "selection", as well as the fact everything outside is all greened up (landscape) and any "home repairs" can be completed pre-Spring to get the home ready to sell. Living here in Florida, as I stated, is almost the opposite.... that is the "Winter" months of November thru March are usually the "best" times for homes (like ours) in retirement type communities, as the Northern "SnowBirds" are a commin' down here and many lookin' to buy !! For "families", most wait till school is almost out (it's out down here late May) and put their house on the market in late February or in March, hoping for a May closing. Lately it has been taking much more than a couple of months to sell ANY kind of home in Florida with some on the market well over a year. Asking too high of a selling price is usually the main reason now that it's a buyer's market almost anywhere in the U.S.A. !!

And THANKS for the replies.........

[Rich Lee]

Real estate seasons are similar to retail seasons. The spring market can be as early as the first full week of January. July and August are usually good months for buyers but there usually isn't as much inventory as January - March. In markets going through a transition, such as ours, this doesn't necessarily hold true.