.jpg)
Why September Is an Interesting Time to Buy
September has always felt a little bit like a second January.
Summer holidays wind down. Kids go back to school. Calendars come back to life. We start cooking actual dinners again instead of declaring that chips and something from the barbecue count.
And for some buyers, September is also when the house hunt gets serious again.
Spring traditionally gets a lot of attention in real estate, but the early fall market can offer buyers an interesting window of opportunity.
Here's why.
The Summer Distractions Are Over
Summer is wonderful, but it can be chaotic.
Vacations, cottages, weddings, kids' activities, long weekends and beautiful weather can make house hunting slide down the priority list.
By September, routines return.
For buyers who spent the summer casually watching REALTOR.ca, this is often the point when the conversation changes from:
"Maybe we'll move..."
to:
"Okay. What can we actually buy?"
That's an important shift.
Sellers May Be More Motivated
Not every seller who lists in September is in a hurry, of course.
But some properties on the market in early fall were originally listed during the summer. If a home hasn't sold, the seller may be more willing to have a serious conversation about price, conditions, closing dates or other terms.
That doesn't mean every listing suddenly becomes a bargain.
It means we look at how long the property has been available, its pricing history, comparable sales and the seller's situation where we can determine it.
Sometimes the opportunity isn't finding a cheaper house.
It's negotiating a better deal.
There May Be Less Buyer Competition
The spring market can bring a lot of buyers out at once.
September can feel different.
Some buyers purchased earlier in the year. Others put their plans on hold. Families hoping to move before the school year may already be settled.
That can potentially mean fewer buyers competing for certain properties.
And fewer competing buyers can give you something incredibly valuable:
time to think.
Imagine that.
Buying a house without feeling like you're competing in an Olympic event.
You Can Actually See How the House Handles Real Life
There is something useful about viewing homes once summer starts fading.
You're more likely to notice how much natural light the house receives when the days aren't endlessly sunny.
You may see how the yard drains after rain.
You can start thinking realistically about entrances, mudrooms, garages, storage and where approximately 47 pairs of wet boots are going to live.
A house can feel very different in September than it does on a perfect June afternoon.
The Neighbourhood Is Back to Normal Too
This is one of my favourite reasons to house hunt in September.
Schools are operating. Traffic patterns return. Kids are outside. Commuters are commuting. Activities resume.
In other words, you're getting a better picture of what the neighbourhood may actually feel like during your everyday life.
If you're considering a home, visit the area at different times.
Morning.
After school.
Dinner time.
Evening.
You're not just buying the house.
You're buying your Tuesday morning there too.
But Don't Buy Just Because It's September
There is no magical month when every buyer should purchase a home.
The right time to buy depends on your finances, your plans, your comfort level and what is actually available.
I'd much rather see someone buy the right home in November than rush into the wrong one in September because someone told them fall was a good time to buy.
Real estate should work around your life.
Not the other way around.
Thinking About Buying This Fall?
You don't have to be completely ready before we start talking.
In fact, I'd rather have that conversation early.
We can look at what homes are selling for, talk about neighbourhoods, establish your wish list and figure out what your realistic next steps should be.
Then, when the right house appears, you're not starting from zero.
You're ready.
Charlotte Ferguson, REALTOR®
Finding Home With Charlotte