Newport Beach, California, October 8th ( PR Newswire ) – Don’t just focus on spring. Autumn and winter also bring a second buying season, and for buyers, this time period can sometimes be more favorable than many people imagine. Spring gets more attention due to its traditional peak season, but by the end of the year, there are often more properties to choose from, more flexible pricing, and builders who are more willing to close deals. If you didn’t find a house this spring, that doesn’t mean you’ve already missed your opportunity.
Most people cannot decide when to move on their own. Chief Economists NewHomeSource and Zonda from Ali Wolf stated, "People buy houses because their lives have changed, not because the market tells them to do so." She mentioned that new jobs, the addition of family members, or moving closer to relatives can all prompt someone to enter the housing market at any time of the year. She also noted that buyers who look at houses in autumn or winter are often surprised by how many new homes they can find and the number of transaction opportunities available to them.
Mortgage rates have risen, which has led many homebuyers to choose to wait and see. However, data from NewHomeSource indicates that the end of the year usually brings more available properties, houses sold at prices lower than their listed prices, and builders who are more willing to negotiate. Here is what homeviewers need to know.
Developers currently have more motivation to close deals.
Listed housing developers will disclose their financial performance as of the end of the year, which will increase the pressure on them to sell houses before the settlement of accounts. Weak demand further exacerbates this pressure. A new survey Zonda shows that 85% of developers stated that demand in September was lower than expected, even after taking into account typical seasonal factors.
This combination is advantageous for buyers. Some builders have started to offer mortgage rate buyouts, where the builders pay the cost to reduce the loan interest rates; others simply lower the prices directly. In fact, the prevalence of price reductions in September was twice that of May—40% of builders indicated price cuts in September, compared to 20% in May.
More optional properties available.
Quickly available housing sources refer to newly built homes that are either already completed or expected to be finished within 90 days. Buyers who need to move in as soon as possible can skip the several months of waiting time required to build a house from scratch. In addition, builders usually wish to sell these houses as quickly as possible to avoid carrying holding costs and to meet their year-end targets.
This type of housing supply usually becomes more abundant towards the end of the year. Since 2019, the number of quickly available housing units in the fourth quarter has been greater than in the second quarter almost every year. The exception was in 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic caused buyers to flock to the new housing market due to sudden changes in lifestyle needs.
Overall, the number of new homes listed for sale is expected to grow steadily throughout the year, while the market for second-hand homes exhibits a more pronounced cyclical pattern. In May 2025, the inventory of second-hand homes increased by 8% month-on-month, followed by a decrease of about 9% in December. Therefore, although the choices for second-hand homes may decrease during winter, new homes will continue to enter the market.
Houses are more likely to be sold for a price lower than the listed price.
The pricing trend at the end of the year is also more favorable for buyers. In December 2025, the average transaction price of new homes was 4.8% lower than the listed price; in June, this gap was only 2.8%. Taking a house priced at $400,000 as an example, this means a difference of $8,000.
Wolf indicates that by the end of the year, the listed price is more like a starting point, rather than the final answer. On paper, a few percentage points may not seem like much, but when accumulated, they represent real money. When builders focus on achieving their year-end targets, well-prepared buyers will be in a more advantageous position.
The pace of transactions has slowed down, giving buyers more opportunities to negotiate terms.
Developers typically measure sales performance by the number of homes sold each month in each community, and this rate is referred to as the sales velocity. By the end of the year, this pace often slows down. In December 2025, developers sold an average of 1.9 homes per community, which is lower than the annual average of 2.2 homes and also below the peak of 2.6 homes in March. The previous year showed a similar pattern: 2.1 homes were sold in December, with an annual average of 2.5 homes.
When sales slow down, builders may be more willing to offer incentives to facilitate transactions, including:
- Mortgage rate buyout to reduce monthly payments
- Transaction fee subsidy to reduce buyers' upfront expenses
- Design upgrades, such as better decoration or configuration, without the need for additional payment.
- Direct price cut
How to seize the housing purchase opportunities of this season
For buyers looking at properties in autumn and winter, it will be very helpful to make some preparations in advance.
- Inquiring about quick move-in housing sources. Developers usually prefer to sell houses that are already completed or nearly completed, and buyers don't have to wait to move in either.
- Inquire about what incentive measures are available. Do not assume that the listing price or the discounts advertised are the final conditions.
- Compare quotes based on total cost. Interest rate buyouts, transaction fee subsidies, and price reductions can each save money in different aspects; therefore, it is important to see how they affect upfront costs and monthly payments separately.
- Arrange financing as early as possible. Prepare a loan plan in advance to have a greater advantage during negotiations.
Wolf suggests: "The best advice for buyers is to maintain their level of engagement. The housing market does not shut down during holidays, and patience at this time of year often pays off."
For more advice on purchasing a new home, please refer to " New Home 101: Buying Your New Home ".
Media contact: [ email protected ]
