Is Fall a Good Time to Buy a Home in the South Sound? Here's Why I Say Yes

Everyone waits for spring. Smart buyers shop in October.

If you have been thinking about buying a home in Pierce County and telling yourself you will start looking "after the holidays," this one is for you. After 25 years of selling homes around Lake Tapps, Bonney Lake, and the rest of the South Sound, I can tell you that fall is one of the most underrated times of the year to buy. Here is why, and how to make the most of it.

Thinking about Auburn this fall? In my latest video I take you on a tour of Lakeland Hills: the parks, the shopping, the restaurants, and what the neighborhood is really like day to day.

Why is fall a good time to buy a home in Pierce County?

Two words: less competition. Once summer wraps up, a lot of buyers hit pause. Busy fall schedules, holiday plans, and the rain all thin out the crowd at open houses. The homes do not disappear, though. The latest NWMLS numbers show more homes for sale across our region than a year ago, with fewer of them going under contract. That combination is exactly what gives a buyer leverage.

Pierce County is still one of the tighter markets in the NWMLS area, so do not expect every seller to hand you a discount. The great homes that are priced right still move. But you are far less likely to find yourself in a bidding war against eight other offers the way buyers did in spring.

Are sellers really more willing to negotiate in the fall?

Often, yes. Think about who is selling in October. Some sellers listed in the spring or summer and are still on the market. Others have a job transfer, a move in or out of JBLM, or a home they already bought and need to sell before the holidays. Those sellers are motivated, and motivated sellers are open to a conversation.

Negotiating is not just about price. In the fall I regularly see buyers ask for, and get, things like:

• Seller-paid closing costs
• Repairs or a repair credit after inspection
• A credit toward buying down your interest rate
• A closing date that works around your schedule

Which of those makes sense depends on the home and the seller. That is where having an agent who reads the room matters.

What should fall buyers look for that summer buyers miss?

Here is my favorite part of buying in the fall: the rain tells the truth. A house that looks perfect in July can look very different after a week of Northwest weather. When you tour homes this time of year, pay attention to gutters and downspouts, standing water in the yard, any musty smell in the basement or crawlspace, and moss on the roof. And never, ever skip the inspection. A good inspector in the rainy season can spot drainage and moisture problems that hide all summer.

If you are shopping for Lake Tapps waterfront, the off-season is a great time to see the shoreline and the dock with the water down. It tells you a lot about how the property lives year-round, not just on the Fourth of July.

How do I get ready to buy this fall?

The buyers who win in the fall are the ones who are ready to move when the right home shows up. Start with these three steps:

1. Get pre-approved with a local lender who knows our market. If you do not have one, I will connect you with the lenders I trust from my own personal transactions.
2. Know your real number, meaning the monthly payment you are comfortable with, not just the maximum you are approved for.
3. Plan your timeline. A financed purchase usually takes a month or more to close, so if you want to be in before the holidays, now is the time to start.

Shouldn't I just wait until spring?

You can, and plenty of people will. That is kind of the point. In spring you get more listings, but you also get a lot more buyers competing for them. Nobody can promise you where prices or rates will be in April. What I can tell you is what I see right now: more choice, more patient sellers, and more room to negotiate than we have had in a while. If the right home is out there today, waiting for spring usually just means paying spring prices to fight over it.