According to the seasonal inventories at your local shopping mall, Halloween begins in August and Christmas begins right after Halloween. While the retail calendar may march to its own drummer, is there a unique seasonal rhythm to follow when planning to sell your home? There are some common-sense rules of real estate to keep in mind when considering this question.

The Cyclical Aspect of Home Sales

Spring brings warm weather and plenty of buyers. It is traditionally the optimal time of year to sell a home. Many families target this season for home shopping as they factor in the end of the school year to ensure a smooth transition for their children. Besides, everything looks nicer in the springtime. Almost any property seems a little better when the sun shines, the grass is green, and the flowers are blooming.

Summer offers a continuation of the spring buying frenzy, but the frenzy levels off somewhat after early shoppers finalize transactions. Fall buying then follows the cooling trend of the weather. With kids back at school, most parents find themselves busy with daily routines, and they are less inclined to think about making a move. Finally, winter weather and the holidays dull all but the most bargain-hungry buyers’ appetites.

What Happens in Vegas . . .

. . . isn’t necessarily what happens in most other markets. When looking to sell your home, you may feel most comfortable adhering to the spring listing rule of thumb. Remember, however, that Las Vegas has a transient aspect not always found in other parts of the country. A 2011 article in the Las Vegas Sun humorously referred to Nevada as “the transplant state,” with less than 24 percent of residents born and bred here. The consequence of this transience for real estate is year-round appeal.

Another thing you may have noticed is that the seasons here are not quite so seasonal. There is not much of a dreary winter season, so you can look around town at any time of year. It is not uncommon to see tourists enjoying outdoor swimming pools in Las Vegas in December. If you are winter shopping, remember that the pool home you have your eye on will look extra-enticing when the thermometer reads 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

Vegas.com’s guide of average monthly weather conditions nicely illustrates the differences between southern Nevada seasons and those in Buffalo, New York.

Go Ahead—Sell Your Las Vegas Home

For the most part, Las Vegas sellers have long benefited from the rule of supply and demand. The post-2006 economic downturn notwithstanding, market conditions for Las Vegas properties typically show that demand exceeds supply. To use the parlance of the casinos, the odds are in your favor in any season if you want to sell your home in Las Vegas.

Photo Source: Kendyl Young

[cf]skyword_tracking_tag[/cf]