It is common knowledge that the winter months are the slowest when it comes to home sales -- in our local market, and beyond. 

But just how much slower are they?

The graph above shows the average number of *contracts signed* per month during the winter (Dec, Jan Feb) as compared to during the spring (Mar, Apr, May) based on the past three years of home sales in Harrisonburg and Rockingham County.

So... 

Is 100 buyers buying a month a significantly slower pace of buyers committing to buy than 142 buyers buying a month?  Yes.

Is 100 buyers buying a month still a pretty solid amount of buyers buying per month in the context of the spring market only comprising of 142 buyers buying a month?  Yes.

Is it possible that the number of buyers buying per month during the winter is artificially constrained by a lower number of sellers being willing to sell per month?  Yes.

So... if you are thinking about selling your home in the next six months... should you wait until spring?  You could, but I don't think you need to if you would rather sell and move sooner than springtime. 

There will still be plenty of buyers buying over the winter, even if it is not as many as will be buying in the spring.