8 reasons why this fall is a great time to buy a home

Over the years, it’s become the commonly accepted wisdom that spring and summer are the best time to buy and sell a home. For many years, that thinking made sense: you buy a home in the spring so that you can move in during the summer so that your kids can be settled in by the time they have to go to their new schools in the fall. 

The flaw in this thinking, however, is that a lot of people think the same way. That leads to more people looking to buy a home at the same time. And when there are many homebuyers, there is more competition for the homes that are available.

That’s why savvy home shoppers know that fall is just as great a season to buy a home as the spring – if not greater. And this year, there are even more reasons that fall is a great time to jump into the market.

What makes fall 2024 unique

As mentioned above, the housing market really starts to heat up with the temperatures in spring and summer. But that didn’t really happen in 2024. Whether it was buyers waiting for mortgage rate drops that didn’t materialize, rising home prices, or something else, homebuying activity was slow this year.

However, over the last few weeks, mortgage rates have started to drop, and the Federal Reserve has indicated that they are committed to possibly lowering their federal funds rate. That should encourage mortgage rates to come down even more. 

In addition, the number of homes for sale, which has been historically low for years now, has started to inch up this year. 

These two factors mean that buyers should be able to afford more and have more options when looking. That hasn’t been the case for a while now, so buyers ought to get prepared this fall. What is the best way to do that? With pre-approval. It will show sellers you mean business and will make your offer stand out. 

In addition to those factors that make this fall a good time to buy, here are a few more reasons that are true almost every year:

8 advantages to buying a house in the fall

1. There are fewer shoppers
2. Prices tend to drop
3. You'll be able to take your time
4. Get a more accurate view of the home
5. More attention from agents, appraisers, loan officers, and others
6. Flexibility on moving dates
7. More workmen available
8. Put your new furniture needs on your wish list

1. There are fewer shoppers 

As we mentioned above, this is the number one reason that the spring selling season is overrated. After all, it’s more commonly called the spring selling season—not the spring buying season—for a reason. It’s a great time to get top dollar for your home when there are so many eager buyers driving up the price.

But that competition cools off in the fall. 

A report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows a year-over-year trend of home sales spiking from the spring through the summer months, then tapering off as soon as back-to-school time arrives. You can see why sellers are anxious to get their homes on the market at the beginning of that spending spree.

If you can wait out the market and jump in after the spring and summer rush, the benefits are far more than more elbow room at the open house. Fewer home buyers lead directly to the next reason fall is a great time to buy …

2. Prices tend to drop

That same NAR report that showed sales dipping once the temperatures dropped also shows home prices falling during the fall as well. This could be a reflection of a large group of sellers who missed out on the hot selling season and are now more motivated to get out from under their mortgage payments.

You may be worried that any home left on the market as fall hits must have some sort of issue with it. Otherwise, why would it still be for sale? But there are many reasons that the home may be sitting there on your favorite home listing site:

• The seller’s life is changing and he or she needs to sell the home quickly
• The seller needed to make improvements before listing and couldn’t get them done in time
• The seller didn’t find the right buyer during the spring or the summer
• A sale fell through in the spring and the seller had to fix the issue before relisting the home
• The seller may also want take advantage of a slower selling season when there will be fewer comparable homes 

3. You’ll be able to take your time

Buying a home is usually one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make in your life. You don’t want to rush into anything, but if you’re competing with many other eager homebuyers, you may not have much time to consider a home before putting in an offer. You won’t feel that pressure during the fall. 

A survey of new homeowners conducted by Bankrate shortly after the homebuying frenzy that characterized the first year of the pandemic found that nearly 64% of millennial homebuyers have regrets about their decision. Some of the most common misgivings are around the financial commitment being too great and the size of the home not fitting their needs. Two issues that if these new homeowners had more time to run the numbers and identify how much home they truly needed, they may have been able to avoid.

4. Get a more accurate view of the home

Take a look at the photos of almost any home listing, and you’ll notice that the sky is blue and the plants are in full bloom. There’s a reason for that. Home sellers are putting their home in the best light to sell them. And the same is true when you go and see the home during a sunny spring or summer day. 

When you see the home during the fall, you may get a chance to get a more accurate view of the home. You could see how the yard looks when the flowers aren’t blooming and the leaves have fallen off the trees. You may be able to see deficiencies in the home that the landscaping was covering during the summer. 

And you’ll also get to see how the neighborhood feels. During the summer, kids aren’t in school and families are leaving for vacation. It’s the least “normal” time of year. But fall will give you a sense of your new surroundings for the majority of the year.

5. More attention from agents, appraisers, loan officers and others

One unfortunate fallout from the crazy market of this past year is how stretched thin real estate professionals were. And not just agents; we saw purchase slowdowns because there weren’t enough hours in the day for the appraisers to visit all the houses that needed to be appraised.

But with fewer sales happening in the fall, you’ll have more of your agent’s and loan officer’s time and attention, and home appraisers are more likely to be able to see your property sooner. 

6. Flexibility on moving dates

You can’t always choose your moving date, but when you’re in a heated competition with other buyers during the spring, that becomes a heated point in the negotiations. The seller may choose another offer because that buyer’s move-in date lined up better with their moving plans. Everything becomes a negotiation tactic in a seller’s market.

No such worries in the fall. Because the seller could be more motivated, they’ll likely be more flexible on things like the move-in date. It doesn’t hurt to ask.

7. More workmen available

As you go through open houses, are you keeping a mental list of the upgrades the place will need? Well, you’ll need a little luck finding the workmen to do that during the busy spring and summer seasons. A lot of renovation projects happen in just-purchased homes, and they’re not all the whole-home, fixer-upper variety. 

Work for tradesman, contractors, handymen (even movers) you’ll need tends to slow during the fall and into the winter. Meaning you won’t have to wait as long to make your new home your dream home once you move in.

8. Put your new furniture needs on your wish list

One nice thing about buying a home in the fall is that it’s almost holiday season. Your new home has new spaces for you to decorate and spots for new furniture, and those are great items to put on your holiday wish list. Maybe grandma is willing to spring for that new dining room table you’ve got your eye on? 

The flip side of this is that you may have hopes to be completely moved in by the time the holidays arrive. If you’re waiting for furniture to arrive via Santa or some other holiday gift giver, your home may not feel finished. This can add to the stress of moving and the holidays, but keep in mind that it’s just one holiday season.

You can see that the spring has an undeserved reputation as being the best time to buy a home. The truth is that every season has its own benefits, and it’s incredibly difficult to time the purchase of something as major as a home purchase or a move. 

The good news is that if you can wait a few months and don’t need to be settled in time for fall activities, waiting until the fall can offer you some big benefits.

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Savings, if any, vary based on the consumer’s credit profile, interest rate availability, and other factors. Contact Premia Relocation Mortgage for current rates. Restrictions apply.

Applicant subject to credit and underwriting approval. Not all applicants will be approved for financing. Receipt of application does not represent an approval for financing or interest rate guarantee. Restrictions may apply, contact Premia Relocation Mortgage for current rates and for more information. All information provided in this publication is for informational and educational purposes only, and in no way is any of the content contained herein to be construed as financial, investment, or legal advice or instruction. Premia Relocation Mortgage does not guarantee the quality, accuracy, completeness or timelines of the information in this publication. While efforts are made to verify the information provided, the information should not be assumed to be error-free. Third parties may have provided some information in the publication, and it has not necessarily been verified by Premia Relocation Mortgage. Premia Relocation does not assume any liability for the information contained herein, be it direct, indirect, consequential, special, or exemplary, or other damages whatsoever and howsoever caused, arising out of or in connection with the use of this publication or reliance on the information, including any personal or pecuniary loss, whether the action is in contract, tort (including negligence) or other tortious action. Rate does not provide tax advice. Please contact your tax adviser with any tax-related questions.