Home for the Holidays

As we are immersed in the holiday season, many of you are probably making plans to come home for the holidays.  And, although some of us never moved very far away, there is always an excitement in the air about traveling to Mom and Dad's or Grandpa and Grandma's house (even if its just a few miles away) for Christmas.  Maybe it's the food, maybe it's the fellowship, maybe it's a rousing game of cards, or maybe, just maybe, it's the idea of being home.  The idea of comfort, peace, love, warmth and someone to watch the kids while you take a nap.  As a total package, it all sounds good to me.

Do you have a special holiday tradition?  My husband's family celebrates on Christmas Eve by attending church and enjoying a prime rib supper and gift opening afterwards.  This year, my son has the privilege of being Baby Jesus in the live nativity at their idyllic country church.  The little guy hasn't even made it out of the zeros yet, and he is being asked to fill some pretty big shoes.  My husband and I are Mary and Joseph, which is quite an honor for us.  The live nativity is a holiday tradition that dates back many years at their church, and even features a live baby lamb to accompany the shepherds in their journey.  I thought my husband was kidding about the live animals the first time he invited me to attend the service with him as we were dating.  It was no joke when that little lamb starting bleating for its mother in the middle of the nativity story!  I have truly enjoyed being a part of this Christmas tradition and being able to accompany my husband at his "home" church.

My family celebrates at the home of my grandparents on Christmas day as we have since they moved to town in 1977.  My memories date back to the early '80s with us grandkids ripping open presents on the living room floor just before the men retreated to the basement for a game of pool as the ladies drank wine at the dining room table and tried to keep the kids in line.  I remember how rosy my grandma's cheeks would get with a little wine, and then she would break out her secret stash of holiday candy that she had in the freezer.  This will be the first year that our little one will be able to participate in the making of new memories with his cousins on that same living room floor.  I can picture it already.  (Mainly the part where the rough housing gets a little out of hand and one of the guys have to come upstairs and make them all sit on the couch in a row for about 5 or 10 minutes until they can calm down.)

No matter what your tradition or where you call home, just enjoy the time you have together.  In the grand scheme of things, it is far too short, home isn't ever that far away, and Christmas only comes once a year. Happy Holidays and Welcome Home. 

December is a Great Time to Buy!

Let me give you something to consider today:  December is GREAT time to buy a home!  Don't call me crazy until you hear me out.

1.  Only a serious seller will contend with selling their home during the holiday season.  You don't have to mess around with sellers who are just "testing the waters."

2.  Sellers tend to be more negotiable on prices during the month of December.  Consider it a direct result of being in the holiday spirit.

3.  Viewing homes with Christmas trees and other Christmas decor up gives you an idea of how big a space really is because those items typically do not occupy a room at various other times of the year.

4.  Historically (and with the exception of the past week), temperatures average between 20-30 degrees and snow fall amounts are fairly light for our area until after Christmas.  This helps to make moving a little easier when compared to January and February when snow falls are typically larger and temperatures colder.

5.  Fewer buyers are in the market for homes which motivates sellers to strongly consider any and all offers.  Your odds of buying a house improve as the market shifts in the direction of a buyer's market during winter months.

If you've been holding your cards close to your chest, you might want to consider taking a look at some homes to see what kind of deals might be available this month.  Wonderful opportunities await you in the local market to bring you home for the holidays!

Also, don't forget to participate in the1st Realty Elf's Christmas Tour of Homes promotion taking place from now through December 24th!  It is a great opportunity to preview our listings and win yourself some holiday cash courtesy of 1st Realty Sales & Management.  Here is the link: https://www.facebook.com/events/591259154277665/.   Happy holidays from all of us here at 1st Realty!  Welcome Home!