Although the forecast is teasing us with warmer temperatures (back in the 70's for next week!), we are currently deep in the throes of fall weather. The cool nights, the crisp (raw) days and the inevitable changing of the leaves are all upon us. One of my personal favorite parts of this time of year is breaking out the sweatshirts and long-sleeved T's. I also love bundling up and taking in a football game. I'm guessing it is the Nordic blood in me, but I really enjoy these cooler temps.

Another great benefit to the cooling season is really just for buyers. This week I want to review a few of the benefits of searching for real estate in the fall. The last 2 homes we purchased were both handled after the heat of the summer had waned. Although it wasn't planned, we were able to take advantage of a couple of these tips and will likely try again next time. Let's dig in.

When I sold my house over in Lincoln, we ended up closing in March. For my own selfish benefit, this was great because there was still snow on the ground and the area around the house (can't call it a "lawn" with a straight face) was nicely covered up. In reality, it was raw, unkempt wild grasses and weeds and truly nothing to look at. I did rent a weed-whacker once just to knock it down a bit but that was it.

One of the benefits of buying in the fall is there is not as much attention paid to the yard. This allows you, the buyer, to focus your attention on the actual condition of the exterior of the home. "Nobody is suggesting that summertime buyers are so infatuated with the landscaping that they ignore that big hole in the roof," notes Badger Peabody & Smith Realty (formerly Badger Realty) agent, Diane McGregor. "But it is a bit easier to scrutinize the siding, windows, shingles and paint when there are fewer distracting flowers and shrubs in the picture," she continued.

Another of my favorite reasons to shop in the cooler months is the ability to get a feel for the weather-proof-ness of the home (No, that's not a real word.). While you typically won't be interested in a home where the curtains move with the windows shut (Ask me how I know!), you can still get a feel for a home's insulation when the temps have dropped. We recently replaced a handful of windows at the house and just standing in front of the new ones vs. the old ones is like night and day. Get up close and personal with the home's windows and doors and you may be surprised at how much of that gorgeous fall weather is making its way indoors.

It is no secret that real estate tends to be busier in the warmer months. With the kids back in school and the sunburns of summer vacations fading into memory, this is not the most popular time of year to move. For buyers that means the pressure is off. This doesn't mean you are going to be house seeking alone; it just means there will be less competition. That tends to lead to other benefits as well.

With fewer buyers and shrinking inventory, agents tend to have more time to spend with each of their patrons. Sellers will certainly get a bit more attention since there are fewer of them but buyers also reap some of these rewards as well. Your agent should have more time to spend on the listing appointments and will likely be more willing to show you more homes. Because the summer frenzy has subsided, there is also a good chance that communication between agents and agencies will be increasing. Agents have more time and will be more willing (able) to reach out to other professionals in the area in order to find the perfect home for their buyers. "Coopetition" benefits everyone!

While I don't necessarily agree with this sentiment all the time, it IS possible to find (or negotiate for) a better deal this time of year. Certainly not across the board, but if you find a seller that is very motivated to unload the home before snow flies, this can put you in a powerful position when it comes to negotiations. I simply want to caution you that this does not apply to all (or even most) sellers. Some sellers are leaving for a job; some have other external factors forcing their hand. You won't always be privy to this information but having a sense for the reasons a seller is leaving can almost always play in your favor.

It is no secret I love this time of year. Most of us, born and raised in New England, do. But besides the falling leaves, vacating tourists (at least for a couple months), far fewer bugs and the promise of snowy mountaintops, this is also a great time to be on the hunt for a new home. Start doing your research online and then get your agent on the line. You'll be glad you did.