Charlotte, NC, is a city of approximately 903,000 residents. Everyone from Baby Boomers to “Zoomers” has descended to the area for the last ten years or so due to its temperate weather, quality of life, and healthy job opportunities.
The city offers several neighborhoods, and two are the Cotswolds and Plaza Midwood. Plaza Midwood real estate has a median home price of $612,000 as of September 2022, up slightly from last year’s high of $822,500. It’s a trendy, eclectic, relaxed neighborhood with plenty of nightlife, art galleries, music hotspots, gastropubs, and unique eateries.
Cotswold real estate carries a median home price of about $979,000 as of September 2022, which is up over last year’s high of $585,000. Many of its homes that date to the 1950s and 1960s are being bought, remodeled, and sold for a profit. It’s home to the Cotswold Village Shops, which was built from one of the city’s first suburban malls, the Cotswold Mall.
The area is experiencing a seller’s market, which means that there are greater numbers of buyers searching for homes for sale than there are homes available. If you’re thinking of selling your Charlotte area real estate, here are the details on the best times of year to do so.
Spring and summer are ideal times to sell your home
It's a well-known, long-standing opinion that the best time of the year in which to sell a house is in spring, followed by early summer—in fact, the earlier, the better. As the cold days of winter emerge into warmer, longer days of spring and summer seasons, buyers slowly come out of their wintry nests with relocation in mind. The “spring theory” was meant mostly for families with school-age children but benefits couples and families of all ages because this period is when the most housing inventory is available.
Buyers usually want to purchase Plaza Midwood real estate so they can close the deal, move from their old house to the new one, and settle their families down by the time school starts. If you are a buyer looking to finalize a deal in spring or summer (and compete with other buyers all vying for limited housing inventories), obtain a mortgage pre-approval letter from your chosen lender. Why? You can include it with your offer and maybe luck out in beating the competition who might not have pre-approval letters in hand, which delays their ability to respond with quick offers.
Selling homes during the fall and winter is not impossible, but it’s challenging
It’s all about timing and the weather. Autumn usually begins around September every year. In some portions of the country, the weather is already headed into the chilly fringes of winter, and by the time the winter season officially begins—on approximately December 20 every year—days are shorter. Most buyers don’t like house hunting in the dark. It’s normally a daylight activity unless the buyer is coming in from another state and can only tour a house in the evening. The weather and the annual year-end holiday season—where everyone is focusing on holidays, parties, vacations, and staycations—are the main reasons why the fall and winter are generally slower times to list your Plaza Midwood real estate for sale.
One exception to the fall and winter slowdown comes from sellers who live in more temperate or downright warmer climates. Snowbirds from freezing, rainy climates worldwide look for winter homes throughout the year if they're planning to relocate to a warm climate.
The best and worst months to sell your home
May welcomes the warm days of early summer, school’s end, and longer days to enjoy nature. It is the ideal time of year to buy Cotswold real estate. Charlotte is out from under the chillier days of winter, and people are out and about. Buying a home at this time exceeds the rest of the year and buyers can move into their new homes before summer temps skyrocket. On the other hand, the most challenging time of the year to sell homes is December.
If you're planning to sell your home, make sure you're ready to move now. Do not procrastinate in hiring stagers, photographers, and cleaning crews; and start packing your belongings before you list the house for sale. Secure a new home or temporary housing as early as you can before the holiday season gears up.
A realtor can be a crucial part of listing your home at the right time. This is where The Laws Collective is happy to help. When you’re ready to sell your home in the Charlotte area, reach out to one of the trusted local agents at The Laws Collective for expert advice and guidance. They’ll help map out a preferred selling timeline to make sure you’re earning top dollar for your property and have a smooth transition ahead of you. And if you are selling during those less-favorable months, they’re industry experts on how to still manage to create an enticing listing that is sure to do well regardless of the season. Reach out today!
