One thing that specialists in the field of country real estate definitely note is the real dependence of prices on the season of the deal. However, when it comes to optimal options for acquiring the standard pair of “house plus land plot” – things get complicated. There are a lot of nuances involved: from the buyer’s level of interest to the desire to save money as much as possible. Let’s delve into these and other intricacies with experts.
– Statistics over the past few years show that up to 50% of deals to buy summer cottages are made in spring, with the majority in early spring, – says country real estate department manager of an online service Alla Dzhabrailova, – around 20% in summer and about 30% in the fall period. Winter sees almost no deals – within 1-2 percent. It is important to clarify: we are talking specifically about summer cottages, meaning seasonal properties, not about country houses for year-round living – the demand schedule is different there.
Correspondingly, the prices change with the demand. They are at their highest peak, while during a decrease, one can expect certain discounts.
– It only makes sense to buy a summer cottage in spring for those who are in an urgent need of it. One of the main advantages of a spring purchase is that you can see how well the plot is protected from floods and other water-related hazards in that area, – real estate agent Dmitry Zubkov explains, – and of course, you will have time to prepare for the summer season with all its plantings, seedings, and the anticipation of the harvest, if that is important to you. And, of course, if the price is not critically important to you. In other cases, an autumn purchase is still recommended. Its advantages are obvious. Firstly, there is a much wider field for negotiation – because demand is clearly not at its peak, and if the owner of the summer cottage needs to get rid of it no matter what, they will be more flexible. Secondly, you will be able to accurately assess the condition of the house (how well it is heated, how long it retains heat, and so on), the plot, the utilities, how the drainage and other water drainage systems of the driveways work, and much more. However, it is better to avoid buying a summer cottage in summer and winter: in the lush flower and greenery of the plot, you may not notice even obvious defects in the house or other structures, especially when covered with snow, especially in large amounts.