Does winter slow your market down a lot?

Question

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

Timothy W. · Answer

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.

Jason Hanson · Answer

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.

Marco Calamassi · Answer

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

Lynn Z · Answer

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.

Lynn Z · Answer

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.

Barclay Smith · Answer

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.

Brendan O'Brien · Answer

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).

Ben Larson · Answer

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.

Shawn Keenan · Answer

Thanks guys :D

Eric Foster · Answer

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!