Value remains through the Winter months

As fall wraps up, many assume real estate shuts down until spring. But value doesn’t disappear in winter – it simply looks different. Yes, days on market stretch a bit, and prices dip slightly, but thousands of homes still sell in New Hampshire from November through March. The question isn’t “Is winter slower?” — it’s “Is winter slow enough to justify waiting four months?

The current market is the only market.  

While we do project a come-back in prices and inventory and faster sales in Spring, every year is new. The national and global environment changes. And while resilient, even New Hampshire real estate is in constant transformation. Today’s numbers are the most reliable.

Thousands of homes sell in New Hampshire each Winter.

We project nearly 5,000 homes to sell between November of this year and March of the next. This is what lies beneath an expected 25% decrease in activity (comparing current sales to the lows we most likely will see between February and March). While the market changes, it still very much exists. In fact, in Keene and Concord, we project a very slight difference in activity, if none at all. Manchester and Nashua also both see less significant seasonal dips historically.

Prices change for everyone - both buyers and sellers. 

What may be lost in a sale can be recovered in a buy. Comparing current pricing versus in deep of Winter, a 2% decrease is expected. If selling, buying in the same season may completely offset this “loss”. If renting currently, buying in the Winter simply represents a better deal. Also important to note, each city behaves differently in these months. For example, in Concord we actually expect prices to increase by 5% between now and February.

A slow sale in Winter is a relatively fast sale, compared to waiting for Spring. 

An average home in New Hampshire is selling in around one month. At the slowest point of the winter months we project homes to sell in just over one and a half months. While a real difference, even an extra month of days on market ought to be put in the context of the four months of a winter slow-down.

Space in the market can make for a favorable experience.

In some cases, the high tempo of Summer sales can result in rushed experiences. Decisions are time sensitive. Lenders can be overwhelmed. The conditions of a sale from both sides can be exaggerated. In a less crowded market, room is created to consider options, to care for details and work at a pace which better accommodates all those involved. Considering how important a move can be, this factor may be one of the most relevant.

A winter transaction does have its element of discomfort.

Yes! Looking for a home or preparing a home for sale in the snow can be complicated. The simple impulse to act comes up against resistance. The possibilities to make repairs is limited. Landscaping drops out of the picture. The aesthetic experience of the home is more bare. Perhaps the market changes simply for these reasons, so one of the most pertinent questions becomes whether these difficulties can be navigated.

The Bottom Line

Every situation is individual — timeline, finances, stress tolerance, and goals.

But if someone is planning a move anyway, winter is not automatically a season to avoid. In many cases, it’s a season where the right opportunity shows up — with less competition and more room to negotiate.