Homebuyers must consider a few key factors before shopping for a house — including price, location, and timeline. The price point is the most significant of these for most buyers, requiring years of budgeting and saving for a down payment.
However, the time of year you decide to go house hunting can also significantly affect the price point and the number of homes on the market.
Financial expert Dave Ramsey weighs in on how to identify the best time of year to buy a home and what buyers should know before beginning the process.
🏦 🏡 Don’t miss the move: SIGN UP for TheStreet’s FREE daily newsletter 🏦 🏡
There may not be a one-size-fits-all approach to figuring out the best time of year to buy a home, as different buyers prioritize different elements.
Seasonal market fluctuations mean that different months have different prices and inventory levels — the key to finding the best time to buy a home is striking a balance between the two.
Ramsey explains more below.
Shutterstock.
Dave Ramsey says knowledge of housing inventory patterns can help in 2025
Generally, spring and summer are seen as hot housing markets, while winter is a bit cooler. But while demand typically syncs with weather patterns, the winter months can also be a great time to buy a home.
December 2024 was a sluggish month, with houses staying on the market for an average of 70 days, the slowest December since 2019. However, winter months can offer some advantages due to reduced demand and competition.
The National Association of Realtors found that over 11,000 homes are sold per day between December and February.
While this is undoubtedly lower than the nearly 17,000 homes sold during the spring and summer months, it still indicates considerable housing market activity can be expected in the winter months of 2025.
Ramsey notes that understanding housing market patterns and being financially prepared to buy a home are the two biggest indicators of success in the market.
More on homebuying:
- Housing expert reveals surprising ways to reduce your mortgage rate
- Americans buying homes may see major housing cost changes in 2025
- Dave Ramsey has a warning for Americans buying a home now
“If possible, it’s good to buy a house at the time of year when prices are lowest and inventory is highest,” he wrote. “Traditionally, that’s August or September. Prices usually decrease in late summer and early fall since fewer buyers are looking at homes, and inventory is still pretty high after the busy spring selling season.”
“In 2024, the best time to buy a house was probably around September — when existing home prices had fallen nearly $15,000 since July, and inventory was the highest it had been all year,” Ramsey continued.
Later summer and early fall typically offer the best combinations of reduced summer pricing with strong inventory levels, but home prices will be the most competitive during the winter.
Ramsey explains that the cost of homes vary with seasonality
Buying a home during the housing market “off-season” can give buyers more power than they realize.
Since there is lower activity, sellers are very motivated to close a deal and get their homes off the market quickly. This gives buyers more bargaining power to put down lower offers, which is difficult to do when competition is high in the summer.
Related: Dave Ramsey has a warning for Americans buying a home now
Prices are generally lower in the winter as sellers factor in lower demand, but buyers may score an even better deal through negotiation.
“Home prices are usually at their lowest in winter,” Ramsey wrote. “In fact, home prices were at their lowest in January 2024 — at a median of $378,600.”
“So if the best time to buy for you means getting the lowest price, be sure to slip on your warm woolen mittens before you go to showings,” he added.
Though the best time to buy a home is subjective, it is clear that the most competitive pricing is in the winter, while the highest inventory supply is in the summer. Buyers must determine what is the most important to them.
Ensuring that you are financially prepared with enough savings for a hefty down payment and that your mortgage payment will not exceed 25% of your monthly income should take priority over choosing the “right” time of year to buy a home.
Related: Veteran fund manager issues dire S&P 500 warning for 2025
