When the weather outside starts to get cooler, the real estate market tends to follow along with it. You will likely see fewer new listings than you would in spring and summer. But a slower period can actually be beneficial when buying property.

Here are some reasons why you should take advantage of the winter lull to purchase your next home.

• Sellers are motivated. When someone places their property for sale during the winter months, they're usually not just testing the market. They tend to be motivated sellers, and this can be a great opportunity for you.
  
  
• There is less competition. In a slower season, there may be fewer competing offers. You might even be the only one submitting an offer for the property. This will also help you gain negotiating power when it comes to the details, like move-in date or any other extras you may be interested in.
  
  
• Inspections can be easier. When shopping for a home, making sure you know about the heating issues and inefficient windows upfront is essential. What better time to test for these types of imperfections than in winter, when you can tell a window needs better weatherproofing, or ice build-up on a roof will be much more obvious.
  
  
• Movers are available. With fewer people moving in general, there will be many moving companies available with full free schedules just waiting to help you out with yours.
  
  
• More time to move in. During the winter, we spend a lot more time indoors. Fewer weekends are spent camping or away on vacation, and with no extra activities to go to, you'll have tons of cozy time to unpack, decorate, and settle into your new space.

You may need to step away from the fireplace and cocoa to bundle up a bit as you go for your home viewing in the winter, but it can be well worth your while to buy in winter.

Courtney Edgar is a lifestyle journalist and copywriter based in Montreal. Her work has been published in HuffPost, Pop Sugar, Atlas Obscura, Explore Mag, and more.