Ways for Buyers to Take Advantage of Spring Market Power

by Carly Jones

If you’ve been patiently waiting for the best time to find your dream home, your moment has arrived! Spring market is the buyer’s season of opportunity, offering the best selection of the year and the perfect timeline to ensure you’re settled before summer.

The housing market is thawing, and here is your strategic plan to take full advantage of the spring surge:

3 Steps to Win the Spring Market

The spring market is fast-paced. To ensure you’re the buyer who gets the keys, preparation is everything.

1. Get Powerfully Pre-Approved

A strong pre-approval letter is your ultimate tool. It shows sellers you are serious, reduces your stress, and allows you to act instantly when "the one" hits the market. Many buyers make the mistake of waiting to get a pre-approval letter until after they already find their dream home. This may cause them to lose out on their dream home because someone else was more prepared.

Action: If you haven't recently, let's connect you with a trusted local lender to solidify your buying power. If you need recommendations, let me know! And if you are a cash buyer, don't forget to have a proof of funds ready to provide with your offer.

2. Refine Your Wish List

With many new homes available, clarity is crucial. We need to know your absolute "must-haves" versus your "nice-to-haves" so we can move quickly on the best properties. If you are buying the home with someone else, it is also important to have a conversation to understand what each of you are looking for and to get on the same page.

Action: Take a few moments to review your ideal neighborhood, home size, and top three non-negotiable features. Make sure you don't limit yourself too much by having very specific requirements. Make a list of your priorities and those things that would be nice, but are not necessary.

3. Sign Up for Instant Access

New listings often get scooped up within hours. Don’t rely on public websites—rely on my network. I have access to listings that are coming soon on the private listing network and properties that are exempt and only available to real estate agents. With my network throughout the North Shore and the Chicagoland area, I am able to keep my buyers informed at all times.

Action: I will set up a customized search just for you. This sends properties matching your exact criteria to your inbox both for coming soon and new to market listings. I take the extra step and go through them myself to ensure that no home is missed and you are not bombarded with every home that has been listed.