At BHHS Adirondack Premier Properties, one of our goals is to stay on top of real estate and seasonal trends that influence buying and selling of properties. This knowledge allows us to provide our clients with the strongest strategies to move forward in their search. Historically, we have determined that June is the most popular month to buy a house in the Adirondack region. Like many market areas, factors including the end of the school year, more favorable weather and the start of summer tourist season combine to create favorable conditions for homeowners to sell or purchase properties.
Timing Your Search – Most Popular Month To Buy A House in Lake Placid
While June is the most popular month to buy a house, the most active period in real estate for the Adirondacks extends from late spring to the early fall. The Lake Placid region in particular offers four seasons of events and activities creating opportunities to buy or sell at any point in the year. The slowest season for real estate lands in late March to early May, locally known as mud season. During this time, many locals and businesses take time off to travel or do a deep spring clean before the hustle and bustle of the summer season.
As far as availability of properties, late spring to early fall period provides the most variety. Many homeowners start to open up their camps and seasonal roads become accessible around the beginning of May. This provides opportunity for home buyers to view more seasonal style camps. Additionally, the ice is out on the lake to open access to some of the gorgeous lake access only camps and homes. Many of these properties start closing up by November with the winter chill rolling in.
If you are thinking about buying or selling a property in the Adirondacks, plan ahead during the early spring. This will give you a leg up by the time the height of the season comes around in June, the most popular month to buy a house.
As a buyer, take the spring to do a rough search to see what properties are selling for in your community of interest. Getting a rough price range will give you an idea on what funds you need to have available. You may find you need additional time to build funds for a down payment and other fees that come along with purchasing a home.
Additionally, if you are planning on taking out a mortgage, reach out to a provider to get pre-qualified. This will prove that you can be approved for a mortgage at the price point. The purchasing process will be smoother as many homeowners require pre-approval to view their property and want you to show that you are a strong buyer.
Once these steps are completed, reach out to some strong real estate agents and choose one that you feel comfortable with before the busier season starts. Getting a realtor in place early will help them prepare to help you find the perfect property. Depending on the agent/agency that you use, they can inform you about pocket listings or properties that have not hit the market quite yet but that fit your criteria. This can give you an extra leg up beyond listings currently on the market.
As a seller, spring clean up is going to be your best friend. March to the beginning of May is the perfect time to clean and fix any issues that may have been put off over the years. Take your time to go through your property and make sure it is prepared for the height of the market. You may even ask an experienced real estate agent to take a look at your property to see if they notice anything you missed. The goal is to make your property stand out from others on the market.
Once the property is in sale shape, mid-May to June is an ideal time to take photos of properties in the Adirondacks. Fresh spring growth and flowers add an extra pop to many homes. Current buyers are very visual, so make sure you have a professional photographer take the photos.
Be intentional and get creative when promoting your home. Feature highlights of your property and add a professional touch to promotional materials with professional photos. Your property will stand out from those photographed with a cellphone. Additionally, photographing in mid May to early June will land your listing in the mix as a new property at the start of the busiest selling months.
If you’re thinking about buying in the Adirondacks, planning ahead for a spring or early summer search can give you the best selection and the most competitive edge in the market. Remembering that June is the most popular month to buy a house in the region will help you stay ahead of the game.
Have questions or ready to start your search? We’re here to help at Adirondack Premier Properties. Contact one of our real estate agents to start planning for listing or purchasing today at 518-523-3333!