Why List (& Sell) During the Holidays?

The holidays bring out the buyers that are determined. By taking advantage of the holiday characteristics, you are in a unique position to sell your home faster and for more money!

Every state’s real estate market is thriving year-round, including during the holiday season. Serious buyers never stop looking, and that is only one of many reasons favoring listing your house with me today. Once more properties hit the market in January, yours will likely receive less attention. List now to get out in front of competition.

Anyone who takes time out of their busy holiday schedule to shop for a new home is serious about buying now. During the holidays you’re far less likely to get casual browsers and new-home dreamers taking a tour. Reduced inventory means more buyers checking out your home, either online or in person. Without a reasonable number of similar, competitive listings for buyers to visit, the seller is in a unique position of power because of the scarcity of comparable homes. With inventory levels being lower than normal during this season, it’s a great time to list your home and showcase its strengths so that you’ll be most likely to receive a higher Sold Price off of your Listing Price.

Your home might attract fewer showings during the holidays, but the buyers who are looking are typically ready to make a decision. These buyers will be motivated to see your home, regardless of what the calendar says. For these reasons, it is important to  make it easy for the potential buyers to get a good look at your home by staying flexible with your open house times and be open to negotiating contract terms that work with their schedules.

Emotion plays a huge role in which home a buyer purchases, and you can capitalize on that by making your home cozy and cheery during showings. Tasteful decorations and a minimum of clutter will allow buyers to see their own families celebrating the holidays in your home next year. Make sure your decorations enhance rather than detract from your home’s best features; simple, refined decorations will give your home a warm, inviting feel you might not otherwise get during winter months.

 

Buyers generally have more time off to look at homes during this time of year than they do any other time of year. These families are spending more time together during the holiday months and have the opportunity to contemplate a new house.

If you sell now, you have a much better opportunity to be a non-contingent buyer when Spring arrives. This means you have an opportunity to sell your home high now with less competition on the market, and then purchase your next home low when there’s more competition on the market. You still have the option of Restricted Showings because as your realtor, I understand that things can be more hectic during the holidays. You can set it to whatever times you want each day. However, just know that the more flexible you are with your Showing times, the more opportunities you have to sell your home quicker.

Selling your home during the holidays can actually be a well-managed, stress-free experience. If you take the time to set ground rules and boundaries, you’ll find that you and your realtor will benefit from the understanding during the process. In the meantime, you might be the only home on the block that is visibly available for sale to the next out-of-towner or anxious first-time buyer that is out on the holiday house hunting prowl.

The holidays are stressful enough, remember to take a moment to remind yourself that if you don’t sell now, there’s always next year, which, luckily, is only a few days away!

If you, or someone you know, is interested in listing or buying a property call Maggie of Mega Luxe Homes. My direct line is 305.204.2462 and my email is maggie@megaluxehomes.com.

The Roads at a glance

Take a look at this beautiful neighborhood, The Roads is one of Miami’s most tranquil historic residential neighborhoods that is recognized for its wide tree-lined streets, opulent foliage and welcoming atmosphere.

More on The Roads here

If you, or someone you know, is interested in a property in this beautiful historic neighborhood, call Maggie of Mega Luxe Homes. My direct line is 305.204.2462 and my email is maggie@megaluxehomes.com.

Widening of the Panama Canal to compound economic opportunities in Miami

Considered by many to be the 8th Wonder of the Modern World, the Panama Canal is a 48-mile wide waterway that cuts 50 miles of dense solid rock and tropical jungle. It provides 10 hour shortcut between the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean- versus the treacherous 2-week passage around the tip of South America. Each year, thousands of ships carrying more than 190 million tons of cargo transit the Panama Canal and are lifted through by remarkable water elevators and man-made lakes. The canal is a key conduit for international maritime trade.

The widening of the Panama Canal is creating long-term success for ports and their cities on a global scale. Cities like Miami depend on maritime trade, thPort of Miami is already Miami’s second-largest economic engine and its door to the almost $50 billion annual trade it conducts with Latin America.

image courtesy of the NYTimes

 

On Sunday June 26th, 2016, a 984-foot-long Chinese container vessel named Panama became the first ship to enter the new, wider locks of the Panama Canal. The $5.5 billion waterway expansion will now allow larger vessels to move more cargo per transit, providing billions in revenue from all the mega ships that the canal can now handle which is projected to boost U.S harbors especially the Port of Miami. After its own $2 billion expansion, the Port of Miami can now receive post-Panamax vessels – and the first from the Panama Canal is anticipated to arrive at Miami on July 9th!

image courtesy of WLRN