TheMReport

48 | TH E M R EP O RT O R I G I NAT I O N S E R V I C I N G DATA G O V E R N M E N T S E C O N DA R Y M A R K E T THE LATEST DATA No Joke—April Is the Best Time to Sell June may be peak home selling season, but those who sold in April may have fared better. S pring is often billed as homeselling season, but just when is the best month to sell a home? According to a report from Real - tor.com, April may be the best time to sell a home. Specifically, Realtor.com stated that between March 31 and April 6, sellers would be in the perfect "sweet spot" to sell their home. "June is often considered the peak of homebuying season, but our analysis found the first week of April is best for sellers looking to maximize list price, and also reduce the risk of price cuts and competition from other sellers," said Danielle Hale, Chief Economist for Realtor.com. "Given the time it takes from listing to close, putting a home on the mar - ket in early April positions sellers to attract buyers seeking to close and move before the beginning of school year." According to the report, the first week of April sees the most home viewings, 14% more on average, and 5% less competition. Homes are likely to sell six days, or nearly 9%, faster on average. Additionally, sellers may find that they are able to sell their homes for more during this time: homes on the market between March 31 and April 6 typically sell for 6% more than they would at the beginning of the year. However, as Hale said, June is typically the peak of homebuying season, and the average June list - ing is normally 7% more expensive than average. What makes the first week of April special is that buyers are less likely to back out for other homes, forcing a price reduction on a seller's home. Homes sold in June are 1% more likely to take a price cut, while homes sold in April are 1% less likely to cut their price back. Leaving the Big City Behind Utah leads a list of affordable places for retirees looking to settle in a small town. F or many older homeown- ers, retirement may mean sacrificing comfort and living in the cheapest place possible, often in a big city. How - ever, according to 55places.com, that doesn't have to be the case. "Understanding not everyone wants to live in a big city or large community, the company researched the most affordable small towns to retire in 2019," 55places stated. 55places' cheapest small towns for retirees included Logan, Utah; Wausau, Wisconsin; Cedar Falls, Iowa; Winchester, Virginia; and Dunedin, Florida. Additionally, 55places surveyed its readers to uncover anticipated costs for buying a home for retire - ment compared to the value of their current one. According to the survey, 26% of respondents answered "about the same," 27% said "slightly less," and 24% said "much less." Survey respondents also re - ported how much they want to pay for their home, with 30% wish- ing to pay $200,000 or less and 62% expecting to pay $300,000 or less. "Affordability is clearly a driving factor when purchasing a home for retirement," said Danny Goodman, COO of 55places.com. "Whether retirees are looking to stay close to family, move to a warmer climate, adopt a low-maintenance lifestyle, or join the camaraderie that comes with active adult communities, the small towns recognized here offer practical options and attractive ame - nities at a reasonable price point." 55places used U.S. Census data to analyze metropolitan areas across the country with a popula - tion of 55,000 or less to determine rankings. From there, certain locations were eliminated based on local crime rates, cost of living, and extreme real estate prices, narrow - ing it down to 215 places. The re- maining locations were determined based on 12 weighted data points, including median income and cost of living via Sperling's Best Places, average home sales price, tax friendliness to retirees, active adult communities, local healthcare options, job growth based on the Milken Institute, and AllTransit Performance Score. "Whether retirees are looking to stay close to family, move to a warmer climate, adopt a low- maintenance lifestyle, or join the camaraderie that comes with active adult communities, the small towns recognized here offer practical options and attractive amenities at a reasonable price point." —Danny Goodman, COO, 55places.com

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