December is typically the slowest month in the housing<\/a> market, but it can be a great month for home buyers who have been sidelined to finally make their move. This month may be busier than previous December\u2019s for that reason, too, economists say. Some buyers may be looking to take advantage of steadier mortgage<\/a> rates\u2014which are still averaging below 5 percent\u2014and home prices that are easing somewhat.<\/p>\n \u201cI see more people buying right now because they\u2019re afraid rates will be higher in 2019,\u201d Lynn Fairfield, a real estate<\/a> professional with RE\/MAX Suburban in Chicago, told CNBC.<\/p>\n \n DodgertonSkillhause – MorgueFile <\/p> Mortgage rates are still nearly a percentage higher than they were a year ago, but they are still under 5 percent. Freddie Mac reported last week that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 4.75 percent. Rates are largely predicted to move higher in 2019.<\/p>\n Housing affordability has become a mounting issue in the housing market, but home prices are showing signs of easing. Home prices usually are lower in the winter months, and housing reports are showing more properties are seeing price cuts. Nearly 29 percent of listings<\/a> in major markets during the month ending Oct. 14 saw price reductions, according to the real estate brokerage Redfin.<\/p>\n But house hunters in search of a deal may also find lower inventories of homes for sale<\/a> during this time of year.<\/p>\n \u201cThough the holiday season is not going to give you plenty of options to choose from, there are reasons why you should not put your home search on hold for the holidays,\u201d says Danielle Hale, realtor<\/a>.com\u00ae\u2019s chief economist. \u201cChief among them, December is the best time of year if you want to avoid competitions.\u201d<\/p>\n According to realtor.com\u00ae, views per property are 21 percent lower in December than the rest of the year.<\/p>\n Motivation can be high for buyers to make a move before the end of the year. \u201cEither they have a lease expiring Jan. 1 or they have saved enough money for their down payment, so they are motivated to buy,\u201d Fairfield told CNBC. \u201cA lot of people are motivated price-wise from the selling standpoint too, because they too want to get to their next location.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Realtors <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"Cars](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/amazingproperty.com.ng\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/12\/b9cd745d7da523335b94611991fb2f24.jpg?resize=586%2C330&ssl=1\" "\\"1812-homesearch-1300.jpg\\"\/")
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