Buying a house this summer? Realtors reveal 5 essential things to know ahead of time will save you many a headache or disappointment
Act fast, but act smart, our real estate experts urge


Warmer weather, longer days, and school vacations make summer a great time to look at moving home.
However, this peak season for real estate promotes some unique challenges when looking for your dream house and registering your interest, with higher competition and slower lenders possibly standing in the way of your perfect sale. Luckily, real estate experts have all the tips you need to put you ahead of the sunshine rush.
Here’s what you need to consider when looking to buy a house in the summer months.
Buying a house in summer
Although the paperwork and general process are the same, shopping for a new property in summer can feel a lot different from buying a house in spring, or buying a home in fall. The market changes significantly and with it, the prices and availability.
1. Competition will be higher in most states
Never skip an in-person viewing just to beat competition.
Because of the longer, dryer days, most home markets will see a boom of properties for sale, and forgetting about the competition is one of the top home buyer mistakes.
Robert Washington, broker at Savvy Buyers Realty explains, ‘Regarding home buying in the summer, there is usually more competition from other buyers and sellers tend to have the upper hand during negotiations.’
It is worth mentioning, however, that this is not the case in every state. Robert continues, ‘In Florida, for example, where we are located, summer is typically our slower season. Buying here in the summer will likely mean lower levels of competition from other buyers and an increased likelihood of having more favorable terms being accepted by sellers.’
This digital, printable guide contains all you need to prepare to buy a home and keep track of all the essentials, including: mortgage information, house-hunting checklists, home-buying questions, and suggested filing structures.
2. Prices may be higher
A good realtor can help you to negotiate a fair price in the summer months.
Alexei Morgado, realtor, CEO, and founder at Lexawise warns, ‘Because competition between buyers is higher in the summer, prices can rise due to this increased demand that motivates several offer scenarios. Studies have shown the busiest moving times of the year occur during June, July, and August.
‘Strong offers may be made by motivated buyers who want to act quickly, which can make the buying process more challenging even though there's a higher amount of listings.’
Just because prices and competition are higher, doesn't mean you should ignore the signs a house isn’t worth buying. It is better to miss out on a property than end up with an unexpected fixer-upper home.
To beat the mad rush, Alexei instead suggests, ‘You can start your search earlier than others to find the house of your dreams, secure a mortgage pre-approval to clearly understand your budget, and position yourself as a serious buyer, something that sellers always appreciate.’
If numbers are not your strong suit, this pre-made budget tracker template for Google Sheets does all the hard work for you. This simple download helps you keep tabs on all the payments involved in buying a home for a smoother transition period.
3. There will likely be more choice
Avoid feeling overwhelmed by choice by creating a clear list of wants and needs for your future home and shopping accordingly.
If you want to increase the likelihood of finding your forever home, summer might also be the best time for you to get moving.
Alexei explains, ‘Normally, summer comes with a higher home inventory, and the number of sellers listing their properties in the summer gives buyers a lot of options to choose from. Plus, scheduling open housing and viewing property inspections is more easily done during longer daylight hours and nicer weather.’
4. Warm weather could hide faults
Natural light shows off interiors, but don't let dry weather hide faults and damage.
Unlike buying or selling a home in winter, warm summer weather and bright sunshine can hide a myriad of faults.
Nathan Richardson, founder and real estate expert at Cashforhome advises, ‘Do not skip inspections because the summer heat creates the perfect cover for red flags like leaky roofs, damp walls, and other issues that could end up resulting in costly repairs.’
There are some structural issues you can’t afford to ignore when buying a property, so create your list of acceptable maintenance work and stick to it to avoid a home that becomes a money pit.
When you have settled on a home, the next step is working out the moving logistics. Some sturdy cardboard boxes are a must to keep items together when moving home in the summer.
When packing anything from your home, it is best to use some foam packing material to cushion everything and avoid items being damaged in the moving process.
A label maker can make finding essentials easier when it comes to unpacking.
5. Lenders may be slower
Don't be afraid to push for documents if you have found your dream home.
Key jargon a first-time buyer should know can be confusing at the best of times, but couple that with longer wait times to lenders to approve lines of credit, and the process can feel a little disorienting. You must be prepared for delays in the busiest real estate season of the year.
Robert Washington-Broker warns, ‘The home buying process can be a little slower during summer than other times of the year due to kids being out of school and a higher likelihood of travel. Plus, lenders and title companies tend to move a little slower during the summer since they are short-staffed due to some of their team members vacationing and higher demand.’
A good file organizer with tabs, such as this expandable file folder, from Walmart, makes keeping track of all the essential paperwork easy. It is also easy to take with you to viewings and meetings.
Meet the experts
Robert is an experienced realtor, founder, and lead broker of Savvy Buyers Realty.
Alexei is a licensed real estate agent with over five years experience in the Florida market.
He founded Lexawise to help revolutionize real estate exam preparation, providing aspiring agents with a user-focused platform designed to enhance their learning experience.
FAQs
What season is the cheapest to buy a house?
Typically, winter offers the most affordable house prices as there is less demand through the colder weather and around the holidays. On the opposite side of the spectrum, summer is the most expensive, as people take advantage of school vacations and drier weather to make moving easier.
Alexei concludes, ‘While it's important to move fast, you must ensure that you make good decisions supported by assessments and inspections. Do not be afraid to be flexible because by being open to adjusting your criteria or timeline, you could gain more options to find a property that meets your needs. And last but not least, make sure you work with a good, preferably the best available, real estate agent.’
If you are on the other side of the coin, there are several things to know about selling a home in summer to help you stand out in a busy market, too.
Sign up to the Homes & Gardens newsletter
Design expertise in your inbox – from inspiring decorating ideas and beautiful celebrity homes to practical gardening advice and shopping round-ups.
Chiana has been at Homes & Gardens for two years and is our resident 'queen' of non-toxic living. She spends most of her time producing content for the Solved section of the website, helping readers get the most out of their homes through clever decluttering, cleaning, and tidying tips. She was named one of Fixr's top home improvement journalists in 2024.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
-
Martha Stewart begins her spring cleaning ritual by artfully arranging her decorative glassware – it marks the start of the 'season of entertaining'
Martha shows us that organizing glasses by color is a simple, high-impact addition to a spring cleaning regimen – and one that we will be implementing
By Hannah Ziegler Published
-
Explore a bold lighting design collection created in collaboration with an iconic Irish crystal factory with roots in the 18th century
Lighting experts Visual Comfort have partnered with legendary glassmakers from a small Irish town rich with history on their recent lighting collection
By Holly Ransome Published
-
Is it good to sleep with a humidifier on? Experts promise 'several benefits' so long as you follow two crucial rules
We delve into the pros and cons with the help of experts
By Sophie Warren-Smith Published
-
There's still time! I’m a painting expert and it's the best month to paint inside your home for a silky-smooth finish
Pick up a paint brush this weekend for the smoothest finish possible all year
By Carr Lanphier Published
-
These are the 6 easy and effective things people with clean driveways always do in spring – expert home maintenance tips to spruce up your driveway
From tackling spills to sealing surfaces, these are the simple steps to a dazzling driveway
By Andy van Terheyden Published
-
4 secretly toxic items in your attic toxicologists urge you to get rid of this spring
Out of sight, out of mind shouldn't apply to these potential dangers in your home
By Ottilie Blackhall Published
-
The 3 worst things you can do to your oven – avoid damage and dangerous fire hazards with these crucial warnings from appliance experts
Heed these warnings to keep your home safe
By Ottilie Blackhall Published
-
6 gutter cleaning mistakes that could spell disaster for your home – and how to avoid a potential ‘$8,000’ bill when cleaning yours this spring
They’re simple to avoid and could save you thousands
By Chiana Dickson Published
-
How to choose the best carpet for stairs – flooring specialists swear by these materials for longevity, ease of cleaning and flat-out beauty
You too can pick the perfect carpet for comfort, safety and aesthetic
By Dan Fauzi Published
-
Did you know you can paint uPVC windows in a transformative weekend DIY project? These 6 steps from professional decorators will guarantee a smooth finish that stands the test of time
Enjoy a fresh finish that lasts
By Natasha Brinsmead Published