Should You Buy a House Now — Or Wait for the Spring Market?

If you’re wondering whether to act now or hold off for the busy spring real-estate season, you’re not alone. As a real estate agent in the Belmont/Lexington/Metro-Boston market, I often get this question from both Buyers and Sellers. The answer isn’t just “one size fits all” — it depends on timing, finances, goals, and local conditions. Here’s a brief dive into the factors you might think about.

Key Questions to Ask Yourself (and your lender/agent)

• Are you financially ready? Down payment in place, emergency fund, stable income?

• Are you sure of your timeline? If you know you must move in the next 12-18 months, waiting might cost you.

• How well do you know your target neighborhood (Belmont, East Lexington, West Cambridge, etc.)? Are you flexible on features, or very selective?

• What is your tolerance for compromise? If you wait for “perfect,” it might

• Have you locked in pre-approval and are you ready to act when something good appears?

• Have you considered total cost of ownership (interest rate, taxes, maintenance, school zone, etc.) rather than just “is the price lower if I wait”?

 Local Tips For My Clients in Belmont & Surrounding Communities

• Keep an eye on any new listings in Belmont or East Lexington that might hit the market “off-season” when fewer buyers are looking.

• Use slower months now to do your “homework”: attend open houses quietly, compare homes, check school district updates, review lead-paint/inspection issues, etc.

• Given rising importance of first-floor bedrooms, home-office spaces, walkability (to the center of Belmont, the commuter rail, shops), think about your lifestyle now rather than just “house only”.

• Work with local mortgage/lending partners (like if you already have a relationship with Shant Banosian at Rate, Fred Allard at Movemment, Rick Harrington at Guaranteed Rate Affinity, or Robert Cahill at Leader Bank so you’re loan-ready.

• Let’s build a timeline: If you aim to move in spring, perhaps you tour now, lock in financing, submit offers mid-winter; if you move now, align closings, inspections, staging earlier so you don’t rush.

 Why Buying Now Can Make Sense

1. Less Competition = more negotiating power
   Current market data shows that buyer competition is somewhat softer than the peak of the spring rush.  Buyers have the upper hand in negotiations and there are some wonderful properties available.

2. Rates near seasonal lows
   Mortgage rates (while still higher than pandemic-era) have recently eased, improving buying power. This means the “cost of waiting” may not be as small as you might think.

3. Locking in your move and your lifestyle sooner
   For clients who have found their ideal home, are ready financially, and want to move (for job change, family reasons, school district timing, etc.), acting now avoids the “rush”…pressure to make a decision fast and time to do diligence on the home.

4. Opportunity to avoid bidding wars
   In the spring peak, multiple offer situations are more common; by buying now you may face fewer bidders, less upward pressure on price, fewer concessions given to sellers who feel “they’ll get offers anyway.”

 Why Some Buyers Choose to Wait for Spring

1. Greater selection of homes
   Spring is historically the period of many new listings. Sellers tend to plan thier own move with new listings starting in March, with a peak in late May/early June. More inventory means more chances to find the exact features you want (yard, school-zone, layout, etc.).

2. Family & school-year timing
   Many buyers with children prefer to purchase in spring so they can move and settle during summer, avoiding mid-school-year transitions. This is particularly relevant in the Belmont/Rec-Weston corridor where school timing and calendar matter.

3. Market momentum and seasonality
   The spring buying season naturally sees high activity, strong motivation from sellers, and a feel of “everyone is shopping now.

Whatever you decide, the wise move is not to wait passively: use the coming months to get fully prepared. That means getting your financing in order, identifying must-haves vs nice-to-haves, documenting your preferred neighborhoods (Belmont, Waltham, Lexington), staying alert to local zoning/overlay changes (for example, the MBTA 3A overlay), and lining up trusted advisors (inspector, lender, attorney) so you can move quickly when opportunity strikes.

There’s no universal “best” time to buy a house — only “best for you.” In this moment (late 2025), the stars are aligned for well-prepared buyers who act. You may find better deals, fewer bidding wars and better negotiating terms if you move now. On the flip side, waiting for spring gives you more choice, but also more competition and risk of higher prices or rates.