I am often asked this question. . . On the North Shore, there is a very clear seasonality to our real estate market. It is driven partially by weather, partially by the school calendar, partially by available inventory and it is very distinct. The number of homes “Under Contract” in a given month indicates the number of active buyers. As a seller, you want to be ready when the greatest number of buyers are active. The below chart shows clear patterns over the past three years for very high buyer activity in April through June with activity dropping off dramatically after June and for the remainder of the year.
Under Contract Homes in Winnetka
Note that in 2017, the number of homes on the market peaked earlier in Winnetka (from March – May) but historically, the number of homes on the market peaks later (May-June) so there is usually an advantage to being on the market a bit earlier (February or March) while fewer competitive homes are on the market yet buyers are out shopping and ready to write in the next 60 days!
Of course, it only takes one buyer and there are always opportunities to sell at any time of the year as life events that trigger a move can happen 365 days a year. If you do want to list now or in the early spring, contact me so that we can discuss how to best prepare your home and the #1 thing you should do right now to be ready! I am also happy to pull numbers for your community as well.
