Summer Home Buyer Advantage: Why Now is the Time to Buy in Pittsburgh

When a homebuyer thinks about buying a home, they imagine spring. It is Open House season, isn’t it? What many Pittsburgh homebuyers don’t realize is that summer is when homebuyers have an advantage.

 

While the spring market draws many homebuyers, June and July offer opportunities as well. If you are considering a move to or within the Pittsburgh area, summer might be the perfect time to make that happen. 

Less Competition Means Your Offer Stands Out

Summer is a busy time for many in the area who want to take advantage of the beautiful weather, especially after a long winter. Vacations, summer camps, swimming, picnics, and travel keep us busy.

 

Busy schedules can reduce the number of homebuyers in the market at any given time, which means less competition. In the spring, a seller might receive multiple offers. In the summer, they might receive fewer offers. The seller is aware that the market is slower than it was in the spring. This may give you negotiating power that you simply wouldn’t have had in the spring market.

 

Summer Sellers Are Often More Motivated

You may not be surprised, but the homes on the market in the summer are often there because sellers have to move.

 

Summer moves happen for reasons like:

 

• Families who have already purchased their new home need to sell the old home.
• People who accepted job offers want to relocate during summer break, rather than mid-school year.
• Sellers who want to move while the weather is good and want to avoid the stress and expense of moving too close to the fall and winter holidays.

 

Many summer sellers aren’t just testing the market or waiting for the perfect offer. They have a timeline and are ready to move. And that means they may be more willing to negotiate. Because in the spring market, sellers can afford to be less negotiable when they have multiple interested buyers.

 

Better Negotiating Power

You have some leverage when fewer buyers are competing.

 

You may find yourself making more concessions in a competitive spring market. You might accept a home in “as-is” condition or offer above the asking price just to compete. As we ease out of the unprecedented seller’s market of the past few years, summer becomes different.

 

A summer seller often is willing to:

 

• Agree to a full inspection period.
• Negotiate repairs or credits for issues found during the inspection.
• Consider countering reasonable offers.

 

Pittsburgh Neighborhoods Reveal Their Best Selves In The Summer

When you see a neighborhood in the summer, you can truly understand it.

 

Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods come alive in the summer. Street festivals, parks, and outdoor dining at restaurants are on full display, giving you a feel for the community.

 

In the summer, you can:

 

• Visit the local parks and gathering spots.
• Check out neighborhood amenities.
• Get a good look at the neighborhood.

 

The house fits your needs, but does the neighborhood feel like home to you? 

 

Homes Show Better In The Summer

Not only do homes show better in the summer, but inspectors can be more thorough.

 

Good weather means:

 

• Roof conditions are easier to assess.
• Better evaluation of outdoor living spaces, such as decks and backyards.
• HVAC can be properly inspected.
• Pest activity (if any) is more visible.

 

You Have Time To Make Decisions

The spring market’s competition can lead to making hasty decisions. 

 

When you are competing with multiple offers in the spring, you may be tempted to waive important contingencies or pay more than you wanted for a home. The result could be closing without a true understanding of the home’s condition.

 

Summer buying can offer you the luxury of time to consider what is important to you in the contract and to make sure this is the right move for you.

 

Let’s Find Your Pittsburgh Home This Summer

Whether you are relocating to Pittsburgh, moving within the area, or not tied to strict timelines, summer can be your advantage.

 

I’d love to help. With over 22 years of experience in the Pittsburgh real estate market, I have helped many homebuyers find the right home for them. 

 

Ready to find your new home? Contact me here, by phone at 412-848-3907, or by email at Kim.Esposito1@pittsburghmoves.com to arrange a complimentary consultation.