Is Fall Actually a Good Time to Buy a House in St. Louis?

If you're thinking about buying a house in St. Louis, you may have heard that spring and summer are the "best" times to buy.

But does that mean you should stop looking once the leaves start changing?

Not necessarily.

Fall can actually be a great time to buy a home in St. Louis—but whether it's the right time for you has a lot more to do with your finances, your timeline, and what's happening in the specific part of the market you're shopping in than what month is on the calendar.

Here's what we look at when helping buyers decide whether it makes sense to make a move this fall.

Is Fall a Good Time to Buy a House in St. Louis?

It can be.

One of the biggest differences buyers may notice in the fall is that the market starts to feel a little different than it did during the busy spring and summer months.

Families trying to move before the start of school have often already made their move. Some buyers have paused their search. Homes that didn't sell during the summer may still be available. And sellers who are listing in October may have a specific reason they need—or want—to move.

That can create opportunities for buyers.

But there's an important distinction:

Less competition doesn't automatically mean every seller is desperate to make a deal.

A well-priced home in a desirable area can still attract plenty of attention in October.

That's why we pay much more attention to the individual property and local market than to broad rules about the "best" month to buy.

Will I Have Less Competition From Other Buyers in the Fall?

Possibly.

Spring tends to bring more buyers into the market, which can mean more competition for desirable homes. By fall, some of that activity has traditionally slowed.

For a buyer, fewer competing offers can make the process feel very different.

You may have more time to consider a property, schedule inspections, review information, and make a thoughtful decision instead of feeling like you have to race to submit an offer.

That doesn't mean multiple-offer situations disappear.

If the right house comes on the market at the right price, other buyers are probably going to notice it too.

Are Sellers More Willing to Negotiate in the Fall?

Sometimes—but we wouldn't assume they are simply because it's October.

Instead, we look for clues.

How long has the home been on the market?

Has the price already been adjusted?

Did the property previously go under contract and come back on the market?

Are there competing homes for sale nearby?

Is the seller working with a particular moving timeline?

And, most importantly, how does the asking price compare with what similar homes are actually selling for?

Those details tell us much more about a buyer's negotiating position than the season does.

And negotiation isn't always just about price.

Depending on the property and the seller's situation, buyers may also negotiate closing costs, repairs, closing dates, personal property or other terms that make the purchase work better for them.

Do Homes Cost Less in the Fall?

Not automatically.

This is one of those real estate sayings that gets oversimplified.

A house doesn't suddenly become worth less because September turned into October.

Home values are influenced by location, condition, recent comparable sales, inventory, buyer demand, interest rates and competition.

A home in Affton could be experiencing a very different market from one in Arnold, Florissant, Fenton or South St. Louis—and two homes a few streets apart can even have different levels of demand depending on their price and condition.

That's why broad headlines about "the housing market" only tell us so much.

Your market isn't necessarily THE market.

When we're helping a buyer decide what to offer, we want to know what's happening with homes like that particular house in that particular area.

Is There a Downside to Buying a House in the Fall?

There can be.

One of the biggest tradeoffs is inventory.

Spring and summer traditionally bring more homes to the market. By fall, buyers may have fewer properties to choose from.

That can be frustrating if your wish list is particularly specific.

Maybe you need a certain school district, a three-car garage, acreage, a particular commute or a ranch instead of a two-story.

The more specific the search, the more important it becomes to balance patience with being prepared to act when the right property appears.

Fall weather can also make certain features harder to evaluate. Pools may already be closed, landscaping won't look the way it does in May, and as we move later into the season, you may not get the same look at outdoor spaces that you would during warmer months.

Those aren't necessarily reasons not to buy. They're simply things we factor into the process.

What Should I Look at Before Deciding to Buy This Fall?

This is where we think the conversation should start.

Rather than asking, "Is October a good month to buy a house?" we would rather ask:

Does buying make sense for you right now?

We look at things like your expected timeline in the home, monthly payment, available cash for closing and future repairs, current housing situation, financing, and what you're actually able to buy within your budget.

Then we look at the market.

What homes are available?

How quickly are good properties selling?

Are homes in your target area selling close to asking price?

Are sellers making concessions?

How much competition are we seeing in your price range?

That's a much better way to make a real estate decision than trying to perfectly time the market.

So, Should You Buy a House in St. Louis This Fall?

Maybe—and that's actually the point.

We don't think someone should buy a house simply because an article says fall is the "best time to buy."

If the right house comes along, the numbers work, the payment is comfortable, and buying fits your plans, October can be a perfectly good time to make a move.

And if those pieces aren't there yet?

It's okay to keep looking.

The goal isn't to buy a house before winter.

The goal is to buy the right house, with a plan that makes sense for you.

If you're considering buying a home in St. Louis, St. Louis County, Jefferson County or the surrounding area this fall, the Voyles Realty Group can help you look beyond the headlines and understand what's actually happening in the part of the market you're shopping in.