Deciding to sell your mobile home was a big decision. But now that you’ve realized that it’s time to move on, there are a thousand more questions that need answers. One of the most obvious is “what are the best times of year to sell a mobile home?” Can you list your house immediately, or should you wait? What’s the difference between selling in the winter and the summer?
Today we’ll review the facts, weigh the pros and cons, and answer this pressing question.
Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes
It’s no secret that real estate trends are seasonal. It’s a well-known fact that you’re more likely to sell a home for a good price during the warm months. You may have people in your life who like to make sure that you know this. Whenever you talk about buying or selling a home in front of them, they nod sagely and warn you to get your home sold before fall or there will be grim consequences.
To understand why real estate is seasonal, put yourself in your buyer’s shoes. Why are they moving? Work, school, life? What time of year will they feel free enough to consider moving? While their kids are in the middle of a school year? No. If they’re moving to a new school district, moving during summer break is their best bet for an easy transition. Is a buyer willing to brave the bitter cold or intense heat just to look at mobile homes? Probably not. Will he wait until a milder month? Unless he’s desperate, yes.
The best month of the year to sell
Trends vary from state to state and from town to town, of course. Let’s pinpoint what month is generally the best for selling. And then we’ll discuss local markets.
The merry month of May
May is indisputably the best month to sell a home in most parts of the country. There are a few exceptions. For instance, there are some places on the East Coast where April is best. And, surprisingly, some hot areas like Dallas and Miami sell the most homes in July.
However, for most areas the first two weeks of May are gold. Talk to a real estate agent or another expert in the field if you’re not sure which time frame is the most popular in your area. You should even ask your agent what time of the week to list your mobile home to get the highest number of views. If you time it right, buyers will flock to your listing and offer you a higher price than you’re likely to get any other time of year.
Is spring a no-go? Summer is still okay!
The second best time to sell your mobile home is summer. While it might not be ideal in your area, especially if you live in a particularly hot region, it’s still a great time to sell. Buyers have a lot of reasons for waiting until summer to buy a mobile home. Perhaps they’re hoping to catch up and find a good deal before the year fades into fall. The days are longer, and maybe they’ll have more time after work to check out a few houses before dark.
Summer is a great time of year to sell, so if you have to miss the spring rush, don’t panic. You’ve still got a good chance of selling quickly and making a profit.
Is it possible to sell in the fall?
The further you get into the fall season, the harder it will be to sell your mobile home. Know your local market. It could be that the homes in your area are selling hot and fast no matter the season. If so, there’s a good chance you’ll sell your home in the fall. We know the feeling of “I have to move now, and I don’t really have a choice!” Even if it’s not a top-dollar sale, at least you’ve gotten the home off your hands.
One advantage to selling in the fall is that, like you, the buyer has missed the “best” season and is now urgently trying to find a home. Plus, you can at least hope that the lack of competition will get you the views you need.
What if you can’t wait for spring?
Lastly, what if you can wait for spring to sell your mobile home? What if you need to move and you have no choice but to sell your home during the winter? If this is the case, just go for it! There are people like you out there who need to relocate, too. Winter selling is not at all ideal and we wouldn’t advise you to try it unless you absolutely have to. But in the end, you have to do what works for you. Check out our tips for selling your mobile home during the winter to get started.
Do your research and make the right decision for you and your family. Real estate markets are tricky to figure out. Just keep in mind which months are best for selling mobile homes and start planning your strategy!