They relate directly to the parameters of the housing itself: design, footage, arrangement of rooms, quality of finishing, as well as the location of the house, infrastructure. It’s another matter when a potential buyer has limited funds and wants to purchase real estate while saving money. Here they pay attention to the changing market situation, looking for profitable offers. Seasonality also has a certain impact on cheaper housing. Why does this factor play a significant role for buyers, what time of year is it more profitable to buy an apartment?
Winter
The season when there is relative calm in the real estate market: in the fall, many profitable offers accumulate, and buyers are in no hurry to contact realtors. The best time of year to buy an apartment in winter is January, the time of holidays and vacations. Banks are closed - those who plan to purchase with a mortgage cannot take out a loan; other potential buyers are vacationing abroad or busy with personal matters, leaving the housing problem for later. Therefore, in winter, interesting offers appear. But there is also a minus: since the fall, there have been options that are not very attractive in other respects - location, design, quality of finishing.
When is there no seasonality in the real estate market?
But there are also exceptions when there is no pronounced seasonality in the market. In recent years, the traditionally quiet summer season has twice turned out to be atypically active. And in both cases, this was due to the return of pent-up demand to the market.
In 2012, the market began to recover after the crisis; buyers did not leave during the summer season. The situation repeated itself in 2017 and was caused by a decrease in mortgage rates. In December 2014, banks sharply increased home loan rates and then very slowly lowered them over the next two years.
The most affordable mortgage rate became only in the summer of 2017, when banks began offering loans at 10% per annum, despite the fact that until recently 11.25% (the rate under the state-subsidized mortgage program) was considered the lowest rate. Buyers, who had previously put off purchasing for two years until better times, entered the market, and there was no decline in sales in the summer.
Autumn splash
A season that gives rise to many offers, but also great demand. Therefore, the market is replete with apartments of various categories, but there are also enough buyers. And although autumn is not the time of year when apartments become cheaper, purchasing real estate in the fall has its advantages. There are many offers, so in order to sell housing, developers offer discounts and interesting bonuses that are worth paying attention to. This is especially true towards the end of November: before the winter lull, all developers want to realize their projects as much as possible.
Thus, when deciding when to buy an apartment, you need to pay attention to the advantages and disadvantages of each season. It’s easier to choose a tempting offer in the summer, but the cheapest one is in the winter. Therefore, everything will depend on the financial security of the potential buyer and the limited time frame for the purchase.
What is happening to apartment prices?
As for the price, the onset of the high season alone is not enough to change the cost of apartments. For this to happen, other factors also need to work: buyers enter the market and their number grows so much that demand exceeds supply. Only then will prices rise.
In the primary market, price changes are not directly related to seasonality. Some developers change the price depending on demand, while others change the price according to plan as the degree of readiness of the property increases.
“In our company, the price increases depending on the stage of construction, adjustments occur approximately every two months, as the readiness of the facility increases,” says Adelina Abasova.
But at the same time, buyers actually have the opportunity to save money when buying an apartment in the low season. At this time, in order to maintain sales at a certain level, construction companies offer discounts and announce promotions, encouraging buyers to enter the market.
“We have set three dates for ourselves on which we hold promotions every year,” explains Adelina Abasova. — This is the beginning of the year: with the help of promotions we stimulate demand in January, when buyers usually go on vacation. In addition, promotions are held in late April - early May. The third date is discounts for Builder’s Day, we are planning such a promotion this year.”
Spring season
In the spring, with the beginning of March, buyers become more active, so there is an increase in demand, which sometimes overtakes the supply that appears. This can largely be explained by the psychological and physiological aspects of the population, as well as some changes in financial aspects.
In the spring, the price of real estate begins to increase, in particular for country houses, dachas and land plots. Apartments at this time are still not so in demand. As practice shows, price increases continue until about mid-April and do not change until the May holidays. Around the tenth of May, a new increase in real estate prices begins. At this time, you should be extremely attentive to the offers, since by summer the most worthwhile options put up for sale in the new year are sold out.
The real estate market calendar ends the spring season around mid-June, in other words, before mass vacations begin. An analysis of supply and demand shows that at this time the number of potential buyers increases, but on the contrary, there are fewer sellers. If you need to buy an apartment as quickly as possible, it is worth spending more time monitoring advertisements, visiting to communicate with the owners and inspecting the apartment and comparing various options, since there is a high probability that while the buyer is thinking, there will be nothing to buy.
Time of year to buy an apartment
Seasonality should be taken into account in any business; This factor also influences the activity of the real estate market . There are fluctuations throughout the year when demand for apartments decreases or increases. We can distinguish more active months of work and the so-called “low season”.
Realtors say that the real estate market is very susceptible to seasonal changes, so it is worth taking this factor into account in order to make the most profitable purchase of an apartment.
Studying the features of each season will help you figure out what time of year is best to buy an apartment on the secondary market and in a new building. Let us analyze each season of the year from this point of view.
Is it profitable to buy an apartment in winter?
Winter is a classic “dead” season in almost all areas, including the real estate market . Firstly, cold weather forces many people to literally “hibernate”.
In addition, the long New Year and Christmas holidays fall in the middle of winter. At first, people prepare for them for a long time, then they celebrate for a whole decade (or even more), then they move away from long feasts.
During this holiday period, people prefer to relax more, spend time with their families, go to the mountains, etc.
Well, who will deal with large transactions, collecting documents, going to different offices, when there are Christmas trees, garlands, Olivier and tangerines all around? Perhaps only a few who urgently need housing. Of course, the demand for apartments during this period is falling, which means the number of offers is also decreasing.
At the same time, if you are not lazy and start looking for an apartment to buy in January, then you can find the most cost-effective option even among a small number of offers.
The real estate market revives towards the end of February . It is during this last winter month that you can find good apartment options at low prices. True, there are also many unattractive options - these are the properties that could not be sold in the fall.
So, if you buy an apartment in winter, then you should do it in January-February. It is during this period that you can find a good apartment at the best price.
Buying an apartment in spring
As you know, spring is the time when everything begins to wake up and pick up speed . The real estate market in the spring increases activity among both sellers and buyers. Consequently, housing prices begin to rise. The rise in price lasts until about the end of May.
There are a lot of offers, but you can hardly count on the most profitable purchase of a resale property in financial terms, but you can easily find the most attractive option in terms of design, number of floors, and infrastructure.
Experts say that in the spring, namely in March, those who plan to purchase luxury housing should intensify their search.
Is it possible to buy an apartment cheaper in the summer?
Summer is considered the most optimal period for purchasing an apartment . There are still a large number of interesting offers on the market, although the demand for real estate is slowly falling.
This is due to the fact that during the busy period everyone wants to go on vacation (and spend a lot of money on travel), spend a lot of time in nature and are not ready to devote all their time to the fussy process of finding the most suitable housing option.
But in vain. A decrease in demand leads to a decrease in prices for apartments, which makes it possible to find good living space at a favorable price.
Is it worth buying an apartment in the fall?
Autumn is the most active season both in terms of purchasing and selling apartments . This activity leads to an increase in real estate prices.
There are many attractive price offers, especially in the primary housing market.
You shouldn’t hope for the most financially profitable option for buying real estate in the fall. But the choice of apartments is huge.
The best month to buy an apartment
Experts say that the beginning of the year, i.e. January is the best time to buy an apartment: prices during this New Year's month are at their lowest . So the New Year holiday period is an excellent opportunity to purchase a profitable housing option.
Already in March, demand begins to increase, and accordingly, real estate prices increase by about 5% . At the same time, the number of offers is increasing. This is more due to the fact that, as a rule, projects under construction are completed by spring.
The upward trend in prices lasts for about 2 months in the real estate market. Those who initiated the sale or purchase of real estate in early spring plan to close the deal before the May holidays.
In mid-May, a drop in demand for real estate is expected, since all transactions started in the spring are basically closed, and there is no one to start new ones (or there are negligible numbers of them) due to the May holidays and the beginning of the summer season.
As demand falls, so does the cost of square meters. This means that May is the second most attractive month in terms of buying an apartment. Next come 3 summer months, which are relatively stable. Supply and demand are equally low.
Everything starts to change in September . Rested after the holidays, people begin to intensify their activities in the real estate market. Demand gradually increases, apartment prices increase, reaching its climax in December.
This trend continues throughout the fall, peaking in December. Then, by the New Year, both activity and apartment prices fall.
So, what time of year is it more profitable to buy an apartment? Analyzing all of the above, we can come to the conclusion that you can find a good and profitable apartment option both in winter and in summer .
You just need to know the periods of decline and rise in market activity, and therefore, real estate prices. The rest will depend on the preferences and financial capabilities of the buyer. And, of course, luck is also important, which, as you know, does not like the lazy.
If your goal is to buy cheap housing, definitely buy an apartment in winter . Put the Olivier in the refrigerator and start looking for a suitable living space. If the focus is on quality, then it is better to start buying an apartment in the summer.
Autumn quarter
In autumn, the real estate market becomes active from the end of September, when the vacation period completely ends and citizens with renewed vigor begin or continue to resolve pressing issues. It is worth noting that in this season the price peak occurs from the end of October to the end of November. At this time, it is much easier to both buy and sell real estate, since there are no sharp jumps in value, and they are not expected until the end of December.
The autumn season is also notable for the fact that it is at this time that developers usually rent out their properties. Again, during the period from November and inclusive to December, there are tempting discounts on apartments in new buildings.
Autumn is an equal period for both demand and supply. Sellers can sell their property for maximum profit in November, and buyers have the opportunity to purchase a good option in September or December. However, as practice shows, few transactions are concluded before the New Year, since the population is engaged in pre-holiday preparations, planning vacations and financial investments in a completely different direction. Few people want to burden themselves with paperwork, trips to government agencies and legal organizations at this time.
Winter period
Despite the fact that winter actually begins in December, in the real estate industry this month is classified as the autumn period. The winter quarter here begins in January and covers the entire month of February. In practice, these two months can be safely called the low season, which is associated in particular with the New Year holidays, departures of wealthier categories of the population to resorts and budget planning. Therefore, when wondering when is the best time to sell an apartment, you should understand that you should not do this in winter.
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On the other hand, for potential buyers at this time a very interesting time begins, since it is during this period that new offers gradually begin to appear at a very interesting price. But, despite this, the choice will still be quite scarce, and it is not always possible to buy a really excellent apartment, since there may not be any at that time. Most of the offers in winter are properties that were not sold last year.
If you need to buy an apartment urgently, then it is advisable to start viewing ads no earlier than February. In addition, at this time the most stable price for real estate is observed, since then it tends to increase along with demand.
Secondary housing
If you decide to purchase an apartment in a secondary housing stock, consider what year the house was built. Sometimes a pre-revolutionary house is preserved better than a new building, but not everyone decides to buy them. It is important to correctly assess the condition not of the acquired area, but of the entire building. Since the old housing stock is often preserved in the center, this plays a certain role in pricing.
Another issue is dilapidated housing. What you shouldn’t buy are apartments in demolished buildings, hoping to get something better in the future. We do not recommend buying dilapidated objects awaiting demolition, as this wait drags on for years.
Regional location
In whatever city you decide to make a deal, it is better to carry it out through the mediation of realtors, who will advise where to buy an apartment in this region and how it differs from other offers. Persons acting in the interests of the client are allowed to monitor the purchase and sale process.
Please note that there are resort areas in some regions. The price will depend on the area in which you decide to buy a home. It is better and more profitable to buy an apartment at a resort in the off-season, since from May the cost of even dilapidated property jumps sharply.
We buy apartments in the spring
This trend continues in March - the market “wakes up”, there are more and more transactions. There is one undoubted advantage in choosing housing in the spring. Let's say you plan to purchase an apartment on the top floor of a multi-story building. This means that mid-March-April is the most favorable time to check the strength of the roof. If there are problems with the roof, the owners will not be able to hide it from you: there are stains on the ceiling, the wallpaper is coming off due to dampness.
Later, in May, when dry weather sets in, apartment owners can simply eliminate traces of leakage and keep silent about the problem. After cosmetic repairs, you are unlikely to see defects.
Also in the spring, families with children begin to actively look for new property. This is usually the beginning of May: there is enough time to complete the deal by the beginning of the school year and get your children into a new school.
When is the best time to renovate an apartment?
Potential real estate buyers also think about what time of year is best to renovate their apartment . First, decide on the scale of the repair work.
If you plan to break something, build something, change windows, radiators, equip a loggia, etc., then it is better to choose the spring or summer months, for example, from April to August.
This is due to the fact that such work is very difficult to carry out in cold weather and when the apartment is heated. If you are planning minor cosmetic repairs, you can choose any period for this.
And it’s best not to rush and do everything thoughtfully. For example, in the autumn, decide on the interior design, select suitable materials and components. The winter period will be economically beneficial for the purchase of building materials, since in winter their prices are much lower.
And at what time of year is it better to glue wallpaper in an apartment? In principle, you can also glue wallpaper at any time, but it is worth considering some technological nuances. Wallpaper does not tolerate drafts, so windows must be completely closed during the hanging period.
In winter and summer, gluing wallpaper is a little more difficult . During the cold season, you need to be more careful with heating, and in the summer it is very stuffy in an apartment with closed windows.
If there is severe frost outside in winter, then the heating radiators will be very hot, and the walls of the apartment, especially the external ones, on the contrary, will be cold. With such a temperature difference, the glue on the walls will dry for a long time, and near the radiators - almost instantly. Due to uneven drying of the wallpaper panels, bubbles will appear, the seams will come apart and the wallpaper will peel off.
That is why in harsh climatic seasons it is better to avoid wallpapering and choose a period that is milder in climatic conditions. The best time for this is spring and autumn.
Floor coverings and ceilings, as a rule, do not require certain temperature conditions, so they can be installed at any time of the year.
It is impossible to say unequivocally which month is most favorable for repairs, but you can choose the most successful option for each specific case. It is best to carefully plan the timing of the repair and do everything in stages. As for buying an apartment, you can already intensify your search. Winter is just around the corner.
Number of storeys
When choosing housing, many people think about which floor is better to buy an apartment on. Each option has its own characteristics, but people often refuse to purchase properties located on the lowest or highest floor. Features of choosing this option include the following:
- the first floor is considered a walk-through floor, so homeowners are forced to constantly deal with dust, dirt, noise from the front door, and thieves often pay attention to such housing, so they have to install bars or roller shutters on the windows, which entails additional expenses;
- the advantages of apartments located below include the absence of the need to waste energy on climbing if the elevator stops working, as well as the inability to flood neighbors;
- on the ground floor, real estate usually has a low cost, so if you wisely decide when is the best time to buy an apartment, you can get housing at an affordable price;
- apartments under a roof are also considered not very attractive, since they can be flooded, but the advantages of such a purchase include the fact that the neighbors above will never make noise;
- The higher the house is located, the quieter it will be, and the windows will also offer beautiful views, but if the elevator breaks down, you will have to struggle to climb to a considerable height.
Thus, each option has its own pros and cons, so floors from the third to sixth are considered preferable.
Purchase in summer
It is worth noting that the summer season is considered as dead as the winter season. This is due in particular to the upcoming holiday period, which lasts almost the entire summer. Potential buyers travel to other countries for vacations and dachas, and sellers often go there as well. New offers appear, but very rarely. At this time, you can very profitably and slowly choose a suitable apartment for yourself, since the price of real estate in the summer is the lowest, and there are much more offers than in the winter.
In addition, the same real estate agencies, well aware of the peculiarities of seasonal sales, often hold promotions on very interesting offers in order to attract a potential client.
As for developers, in the summer they are also forced to organize campaigns with discounts.
Reasons for campaigns with discounts from developers:
- Construction is usually carried out using credit funds, and this obliges you to pay bills and interest on a monthly basis;
- New clients provide a constant flow of funds.
However, it is worth remembering that in the summer developers often sell off illiquid housing. The situation does not change until mid-August. An excellent period for those who do not urgently need real estate, good and inexpensive.
Buying an apartment in a new building
It is better to buy an apartment from a developer during promotions and sales, which are usually held during various holidays: New Year, May, summer, etc. At the same time, you need to carefully monitor the prices and offers of developers. Often discounts apply to the most illiquid apartments.
Apartment prices are much lower if you purchase square meters at the initial stages of construction. But the risks in this case are the highest.
If the purchase of a secondary fund carries little risk, then with new buildings the situation is more complicated. You are not buying the apartment itself (which does not exist yet), but the rights to claim it after the house is put into operation.
But the construction period may be delayed or the house may simply not be delivered . There are many such cases in Russia. That is why investing in new buildings is the riskiest type of purchasing an apartment. If the developer goes bankrupt, no one will return the money to the investor.
Be extremely careful when choosing a developer. Place your bets on large, reputable developers with an excellent reputation who build houses and put them into operation.
Otherwise, you risk losing all or most of the invested funds: if a construction company goes bankrupt, no documents will help you get back the money you paid. You should not rush into discounts and promotions from dubious contractors.
Determining the maximum budget
Initially, you should decide how much money is allocated for this purchase. This determines what price range you can choose an apartment in. The available funds additionally influence the area where the housing is located, its square footage, the material used to build the house, and other important factors.
As part of this issue, it is decided whether exclusively own funds will be used for the purchase or credit money will be attracted, for which a mortgage or consumer loan will be issued. You can take advantage of various housing programs or military mortgage loans.
