Are you PCSing to the JBLM area during the winter months? Purchasing a home will likely be the largest investment you ever make and the time of year in which you purchase can make a big difference. There are many pros and cons to purchasing a home during the winter.
Pros:
There will likely be some leftover Summer/Fall inventory and those people will be more motivated giving you a better deal.
There is less competition from other buyers.
You will get an idea of how the property is affected by heavy rains, winds and other major winter storms.
You are more likely to meet any of your potential neighbors. Unlike the summer months where everyone seems to be away on vacation, most of the people in the neighborhood will be home.
Cons:
There is less inventory.
You will most likely have to move during inclement weather.
It can make celebrating holidays more difficult.
Curb appeal is at its worst.
Another thing to consider is interest rates. Interest rates continue to stay at an all-time low. It will be up to you to determine if you want to take advantage of that now or risk waiting it out. Getting a low interest rate can save you thousands of dollars and make a big difference on the price of home you can afford.
Unfortunately, there is no magic formula for figuring out the best time to purchase a home. At the end of the day it will be a personal decision. Knowing the pros and cons of purchasing a home during the winter months should help you to better evaluate what your needs are against what the market has to offer.