Does winter slow your market down a lot?

I live in WI and I am wanting to do subject-to deals, but I am afraid that I am only limited to 3 out of the 4 seasons to do deals. I know the market slows down in the winter, but enough that I would be stuck with a house that I can't get a tenant buyer to deal with? Anyone have anything to say on this, or just go ahead with finding the deals. Thanks guys, Shawn

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:25AM

Eric Foster

Real Estate Investor · Portland, Oregon

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Dec 26 '07, 12:59 PM

Never stop looking for deals. Period! Ever! Never!

Is it is slower in the winter?... maybe?... and if it is, that just means you need a bigger buyer pool or buyers list. That way you can still sell in a resonable time frame during the " slower" months.

Rule #1 in business... When things are slow, work harder... don't go on vacation!

Just my 2 cents.

Take care!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:25AM

Shawn Keenan

Renter · La Crosse, WI

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Dec 26 '07, 08:25 PM

Thanks for the advice, I guess I am afraid that my city of 65,000 just shuts down.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:25AM

Jon Holdman

Real Estate Investor · Wheat Ridge, Colorado

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Dec 26 '07, 09:48 PM

Take advantage of the slowness to acquire properties. You may have to hand onto them longer, but take that into consideration when you are acquiring the property. Sellers will be even more disparate to sell if there are no buyers, making it even more of a buyers market for you.

Jon

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:25AM

Jon Holdman, Flying Phoenix LLC

Shawn Keenan

Renter · La Crosse, WI

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Dec 26 '07, 10:02 PM

So obviosly if you are hanging onto this property for more than a month or two without any tenants, I must be doing something wrong then. I know some will have the seller pay until they can get someone in the house, but if they are in trouble, I don't forsee that happening.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:25AM

Ken Mitchell

Real Estate Broker · charlotte, NC

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Dec 28 '07, 12:43 AM

buy in winter, sell in summer.

families with kids in school are reluctant to move during the school year. to maximize profits on your deals in good school districts, get your house on the market no latter than april or may so the deal can close and the new owners can be in the house before school starts in the fall.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:25AM

Eric Foster

Real Estate Investor · Portland, Oregon

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Dec 28 '07, 03:01 AM

Originally posted by "papasmurf"

... I guess I am afraid that my city of 65,000 just shuts down...

That is the perfect size town to dominate! Any time of year!

With that size you can market the whole city and make a name for yourself very quickly and without a ton of cash.

I say... you can do it. You just need to tweak your marketing accordingly!

People used to tell me that December was their slowest time... I believed them, since they all were complaining about it... So guess what? In October I planned for December being slow...and made adjustments to my marketing, and guess what? My December and January's were busier than most others best months of the year!

Go get em!

If you need ideas, just ask!

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:25AM

Shawn Keenan

Renter · La Crosse, WI

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Dec 28 '07, 01:41 PM

Thanks guys :D

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:26AM

Ben Larson

Real Estate Investor

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Jan 06 '08, 01:56 AM

I agree, you should be doing the opposite of what everyone else is doing. If it's winter/holiday season, and no one is buying, that is the time to buy. It makes an already good buyers market even better, and you'll find some very aggressive agents that may get creative with their commissions just to get a deal during this slow time.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:28AM

Brendan O'Brien

Property Manager · Portsmouth, New Hampshire

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Jan 06 '08, 08:04 PM

People don't want to move when it's cold and snowy, and who can blame them? Remember this when you are shopping - you may have to eat that vacant unit for three or four months. On the other hand, a property that is fully rented in January, will probably stay fully rented until the summer. (I'm generalizing of course).

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:28AM

Barclay Smith

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Jan 14 '08, 11:33 AM

If you work fast in a slow market, you can positively influence that market and in time even make profitable deals that can help you grow.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:31AM

Lynn Z

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Jan 16 '08, 05:38 AM

vacancies kill and this winter you couldn't give a nice rental house away. No
hits from Craig's list, no hits from local newspaper (normal there), people with awful (not bad, awful) credit and bad landlord references. Did everything and have location too. Started showing last of September, tenant left in mid October and finally got it rented the last week of December.

Sometimes nothing you do works. No matter how much experience you have. Had to reflash the chimneys that were flashed improperly with the new roof 2 years ago. Renters are cutting back and act like first time home buyers.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 04:32AM

Marco Calamassi

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Apr 17 '08, 06:35 PM

most of real estate transactions happen in spring-summer, usually

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 05:04AM

Lynn Z

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Apr 17 '08, 06:48 PM

Interestingly enough, March was the best month for renting up houses in this University town. April has been kaput and May and June were lousy last year. The market is flooded with builders who moved to building rental developments rather than risk sales of any type. One wonders if the independent is being squeezed out completely like occurred in the book business I was in years ago. Chains teched their way into taking over the market.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 05:04AM

Jason Hanson

Real Estate Coach · Oakton, Virginia

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Apr 19 '08, 01:55 AM

I love winter time, that is when I get some of my best deals. There are few buyers and less competition, so make sure you are buying property 12 months out of the year. Never take a month off.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 05:04AM

Tim W.

Real Estate Investor · Indiana, Indiana

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Apr 19 '08, 09:37 AM

HECK NO! I love the winter. That's when everyone's not going out and the best deals are to be found. Given the average time to transact the deal and rehab it - winter acquisitions are usually ready just in time for spring renting.

One thing I do like about late summer/fall acquisitions is that there's a greater chance the property was vacated in non-pipe bursting weather.

Edited: 06/26/2010 at 05:04AM