The general conditions on the real estate market are currently promising for buyers, experts speak of a “favorable time window”. But are there enough offers in practice? An evaluation shows in which months the selection is greatest.
For some things it is clear when is the best time to buy them. TVs are cheapest after Christmas, when retailers get rid of excess stock. Car prices fall as manufacturers replace them with new models. It’s similar with clothing and the summer or winter sales that have officially been abolished for a long time. But what about apartments? Can interested parties speculate on cheaper prices at certain times? And what other factors speak in favor of a timely purchase?
An evaluation of Data from the real estate portal Immowelt show that more than 88 percent of purchase advertisements appear between Monday and Friday, and almost 80 percent appear during normal office hours (9 a.m. to 6 p.m.). Almost every third ad is posted at midday and most, over 20 percent, are placed on Friday. Unlike rental advertisements, purchase offers are predominantly posted by real estate professionals, i.e. brokers, builders and project developers.
Anyone who has ever looked for a rental apartment on a real estate portal can safely forget about their experiences when it comes to buying. Often those interested in rental properties in desirable locations only have one chance if they respond within minutes. The situation is different with purchase advertisements: the advertisements often remain online for weeks or even months.
But people often don’t choose when to buy or sell a property. Instead, they are forced to do so by circumstances beyond their control: divorce, job changes, and deaths occur throughout the year. Unlike consumer products, it can be seen that prices do not differ between different seasons.
Longer planning is therefore more important and is somewhat more complicated: many factors such as interest rate developments, market cycles and personal circumstances play a role here. Buyers often have more leeway because they can also decide to rent at short notice. This is what more and more people who were actually interested in owning a property have done in recent years, explains Stephen Paul from the German Real Estate Association (IVD).
However, because rents are currently rising sharply again, buying is now more worthwhile than renting in many places. “It’s not worth waiting,” he says. Thanks to good wage agreements, increasing purchasing power and sometimes lower real estate prices, buying is now more affordable for many people.
Prices may not fluctuate much throughout the year, but supply and demand do. An analysis by the market research company Price Hubble based on data from the real estate portal Immoscout from the past four years shows that the number of advertisements drops sharply from December onwards. Winter makes moving more uncomfortable and people are busy with other things over the holidays.
Good time window for young used cars
It won’t be until April that more properties will be listed again. The number of advertisements also drops from June and especially in July, as it is the summer holidays in most federal states. These ensure irregular availability of sellers, buyers and brokers. That’s why business tends to concentrate on August, October, April and May.
So the choice is bigger during this time. However, the analysis also shows that in these months, advertisements are taken offline up to 15 days earlier than the annual average. Conversely, ads stay online longer in winter.
And the market is currently getting hotter again: Last year, ads stayed on the platform for an average of almost three months. So far this year it’s been an average of just two months. Prospective buyers won’t have quite as much time in the future, especially in the busy months.
It also depends on the buyer profile. Existing properties that are still quite young and already have good energy efficiency are particularly popular, says Stephen Paul. “This is a good time window right now,” says André Adami from the market research company Bulwiengesa. “At the moment the bottom of the price valley has been reached in many segments.”
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Since many new advertisements are placed, especially from April onwards, interested parties have a larger selection and chance of finding a good property. If you’re looking for something for spring, you shouldn’t wake up from hibernation too late.
The chances of a good deal could soon become worse again. “Right now is a good time because not everyone is looking yet,” says André Adami. He expects prices to rise as early as next year, as many new construction projects have not even started in recent years.
So you can’t expect lower prices in the long term. Especially in popular cities, the search can take a few months. Starting your search early is an advantage here.
**Beyond the advice of starting early, what specific steps can first-time buyers take to prepare themselves financially and emotionally for the often-demanding homebuying process?**
## World Today News Interview: Navigating the Real Estate Market
**Introduction:**
Welcome to World Today News! Today we’re diving into the current state of the real estate market with two expert guests. Joining us are Stephen Paul from the German Real Estate Association (IVD) and André Adami from the market research company Bulwiengesa. Gents, thank you for being here.
**Section 1: Timing the Market**
* **Host:** The article suggests that unlike consumer goods, real estate prices remain relatively stable throughout the year. But it also highlights specific months where the number of listings increases. Stephen, could you elaborate on the impact of timing on property purchases? Are there truly “good” and “bad” times to buy?
* **Host:** André, the analysis from Immoscout shows a decline in listings during the latter half of the year and a resurgence in spring. How do these seasonal fluctuations impact buyers’ negotiating power?
**Section 2: Supply and Demand Dynamics**
* **Host:** The article points out the growing popularity of “young used” properties with good energy efficiency. Stephen, why are these properties becoming increasingly desirable, and what does this trend say about the evolving demands of the modern buyer?
* **Host:** André, your company predicts rising real estate prices in the near future. Can you elaborate on the factors driving this anticipated increase?
**Section 3: The Buyer’s Perspective**
* **Host:** We see a clear trend of buyers being more strategic. Considering the current market conditions, what advice would you give to first-time homebuyers entering the market?
* **Host:** The article emphasizes the importance of starting the search early. In your experience, Stephen, how long should potential buyers realistically expect their home search to take, and what are some proactive steps they can take to prepare?
**Section 4: Looking Ahead**
* **Host:** The market is constantly evolving. What are your predictions for the real estate market in the coming year? Are there any potential challenges or opportunities on the horizon that buyers should be aware of?
* **Host:** what key takeaways would you like to leave our audience with as they navigate the intricacies of the real estate landscape?
**Outro:**
Thank you both for sharing your valuable insights with our viewers. We hope this conversation has provided some clarity and guidance for those considering entering the real estate market. For more insightful analyses and expert advice, be sure to visit world-today-news.com.
