How to Go with the Flow of the Market — Tactics for Buyers

Buying a home for the first time can be confusing. That’s why the tips and strategies you’ll find in this 7-week series, Little-Known Secrets for Buying a Home, will set you on the right path. It’s a “behind the scenes” glimpse of what you should look out for and consider when starting your own search for a home.

Buying a home requires an understanding of not only the seasonal shifts in market activity but also the weekly flow of the market. You’ll need to be prepared and know what to expect for each one.

You will be a much more successful and less stressed buyer if you know how to respond to the cyclical flow of the market — both seasonal and weekly.

My secret tips below will help you understand why timing affects the home buying process.

The Weekly Inventory Cycle

Homes tend to come on the market Thursdays and Fridays. As the weekend approaches buyers have time to devote to their home search.  Makes sense!

That means you have to get organized Friday afternoon or evening to know what homes you are going to see Saturday and/or Sunday. (Your Friday nights will never be the same!)

Depending on the neighborhood you are looking in homes will either go for “speed” or go for “profit.” 

What that means is, depending on where you are looking, sellers either tend to take offers quickly OR they set deadlines after the weekend to give as many buyers a chance to see their home, hoping to get multiple offers and drive the price up.  

If you see a home you like online reach out to your agent so they can contact the seller’s agent to determine if you need to rush out and see it or if you can take your time and have a set deadline, typically for early the following week. 

There are exceptions to this rule, but typically, this is how the weekly cycle of new listings works.

Keep in mind that the inventory of homes for sale changes weekly and depending on the time of year it can be drastic. So once you make the decision to buy a home, you really need to be out there looking every weekend in order to see what has come on the market each and every week. And again, have a strategy in place for “speed” or “profit.”

The Yearly Inventory Cycle

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect during the year:

• Inventory (the number of homes on the market) has a yearly cycle that looks like a bell curve with the low periods in January and December, and the height of the inventory peaking April through June.
• Suburban homes follow the school calendar and tend to become available in April/May/June. Not as many suburban homes come on the market at other times during the year.
• The overall market slows down in July and August but picks up right after Labor Day.

What does this mean for you? 

Go with the flow!  If you are starting your search in December, January, or August, be prepared that there won’t be that many homes to see.  If you can be patient and wait until March, April, May, or June, you’ll have more to choose from.  

That’s why you don’t want to get frustrated or give up on your dream to own a home if it’s simply timing that’s not on your side. 

There are exceptions to every rule, so if you want to know what to expect for your own home search, get in touch and I’ll help you through it all. It’s not one-size-fits-all and there are no hard and fast rules, just trends to keep in mind. 

Let me know what you are looking for and where you would like to live. I can get you started on your search and help you fine-tune it according to your needs and budget. That way you’ll know what to expect and avoid any anxiety about your search. 

Relax and ride the wave of this great central Ohio market! Let me show you how bethany@marysvilleliving.com.