Winter A ‘Golden Opportunity’ For Savvy Home Buyers And Sellers

While most Kiwi believe the warmer months are best for real estate, new data from Trade Me Property reveals winter offers a golden opportunity for savvy buyers and sellers to get ahead of the market.

A recent survey of over 2,800 prospective buyers and homeowners found a striking disconnect in the winter housing market.

Trade Me Property spokesperson, Casey Wylde said while only 14 per cent of homeowners believe winter to be a good time to sell, a substantial 44 per cent of prospective buyers are likely to purchase a home during the colder season.

“There’s a long-held belief that you should wait until the garden is in bloom to sell your home, but our research shows a large number of buyers are ready to purchase right now,” said Ms Wylde.

“This creates a classic chicken-and-egg scenario with sellers waiting for buyers, and buyers getting discouraged by the lack of choice. Sellers who break this cycle are likely to be the ones who will benefit the most.”

The survey found the top reasons encouraging homeowners to sell in winter were less competition from other sellers (47%) and more serious buyers in the market (38%).

From a buyers perspective, many see winter as a good time to properly assess a property - warts and all.

“Winter buyers are using the cold and rain to their advantage, checking to see how well it holds up under the seasonal conditions.

“If your home is warm, dry, and well-maintained, it will stand out from the crowd and command attention from a pool of highly engaged prospective buyers.”

The survey found winter buyers are actively looking to take advantage of a less crowded market, with 47 per cent citing less competition as a key motivator for purchasing in winter, and 45 per cent hoping for a better deal.

While 73 per cent of sellers were concerned their property wouldn’t present as well in winter, Ms Wylde said this is exactly what makes a well-cared-for home shine.

“Forget waiting for spring. If you’re a seller with a great home, you have a captive audience of serious buyers in winter. If you’re a buyer, you have less competition and the perfect conditions to find out what a home is really made of.”

Note:

The survey was conducted by Trade Me during July 2025 and collates answers from 1,108 Trade Me members actively watchlisting property and 1,795 registered homeowners on homes.co.nz.

© Scoop Media