Timing matters when you enter the housing market. A recent LendingTree study finds that buying during the winter months can mean meaningful savings on the same size property. That 8% swing in prices per square foot can add up to tens thousands of dollars on a typical 1,500-square-foot home. This analysis frames the headline claim in concrete terms so you can see how month-to-month pricing affects your budget. The study and accompanying data explain the monthly gap between winter and spring peaks. You’ll learn how fewer buyers competing in colder months can improve your leverage and negotiating position. Expect tradeoffs: winter brings fewer listings but more motivated sellers and longer days-on-market. Later sections will show where local gaps have been largest and how to apply the analysis to your down payment, closing costs, and mortgage sensitivity.

Key Takeaways

• Winter shopping can act like a seasonal sale for home buyers.
• LendingTree data shows an 8% price swing that can translate into significant savings.
• Fewer competing buyers often boosts your negotiating power.
• Tradeoffs include smaller inventory but more motivated sellers.
• This analysis helps you weigh timing against down payment and monthly payment goals.

Winter homebuying is back in focus as January and February post the lowest prices

Early-year market data shows a recurring low point that can change your budget by thousands. LendingTree analyzed median figures across national sales to
isolate seasonal swings you can use when planning your purchase.

What the LendingTree study found: up to $23,400 less on a typical 1,500-square-foot home

Median price per square foot measures the middle price per unit of area across all homes sold in a given month. It removes extremes and makes month-to-month comparisons fair, regardless of home size.

By the numbers: January at $178.60 per square foot vs. May at $194.20

Key monthly medians you can reference with your agent or lenders:

Month	Median $ per square foot	Difference vs. May	1,500 sq ft impact
January	$178.60	−$15.60	≈ $23,400 less
February	$183.70	−$10.50	≈ $15,750 less
May	$194.20	—	Reference peak month

This is an across-the-market median, not a promise for every listing. You should still check neighborhood comps and property condition before you decide to buy home.

Finally, remember that mortgage terms and lender quotes affect monthly cost as much as price. Use winter touring and targeted offers to improve affordability while you shop rates and loan options.

Why Buying a House in January or February Could Save You up to $23,000, according to LendingTree data

This analysis uses consistent assessor sales data across millions of homes to show seasonal patterns. LendingTree worked from ATTOM records on roughly 24 million residential properties from 2015–2024. The dataset pairs last sale amounts with raw square footage and aggregates results by month, size, and state.

How the method works: the team compared each state's lowest month to its highest month for similar house sizes. That month-to-month difference frames the reported savings and makes comparisons fair across years.

• Credibility: large sample, ten-year window, assessor-recorded sales.
• Limits: 12 nondisclosure states were excluded; state aggregates cannot replace local comps.
• Practical edge: winter shopping often means fewer bidders and more negotiating power.

State highlights: Hawaii showed a 25.7% gap, Vermont 22.3%, and Illinois 21.4%. Those percentages can alter your cash-to-close, renovation budget, or ability to compete without overpaying.

For underlying tables and source files, see the frequent classes data used in the analysis.

What’s driving the savings for you as a buyer: competition, inventory, and financing costs

Fewer active buyers in colder months often means you face less bidding pressure and more room to negotiate. That shift combines with longer market times and current mortgage dynamics to create real opportunity for your budget.

Less competition, clearer leverage

Summer accounts for about 29.1% of annual sales while winter makes up 20.2%. That means Americans buy roughly 1.4x more homes in peak months than in winter.

Result: with less competition you can avoid escalation clauses and limit appraisal-gap exposure when you make an offer.

Longer market time helps your process

Median days on market in January run near 75 days versus 48 in April–June. More time on market gives you room for inspections, careful due diligence, and measured counteroffers.

Sellers make concessions off-season

Agents report sellers covering closing costs, leaving appliances, and agreeing to credits. Resale sellers often respond to builder incentives like rate buydowns by matching concessions.

Rates and monthly costs matter

With a 30-year fixed around 6.16% today, your payment on a $450,000 mortgage can be about $250/month lower than at ~7% earlier in 2025.

Combine that rate environment with a lower purchase price and you may reach 20% down sooner and avoid PMI, improving long-term affordability.

Factor	Winter Value	Peak Comparison	Buyer impact
Share of sales	20.2%	Summer 29.1%	Less competition; more leverage
Median days on market	75 days (Jan)	48 days (Apr–Jun)	More inspection and negotiation time
30-year fixed	6.16% (current)	~7.00% (early 2025)	≈ $250/month savings on $450k loan
Seller concessions	Closing costs, appliances, credits	Less common in peak	Lower consumer costs at closing

Next steps: get preapproved, track list-to-sale ratios, ask your agent about seller motivation, and compare lender quotes so total consumer costs—not just the list price—drive your strategy.

Conclusion

Buying near the start of the year can convert seasonal softness into real dollars saved. The LendingTree analysis using ATTOM records shows a clear gap: January’s median is $178.60 per square foot versus $194.20 in May, which equals about $23,400 on a 1,500 sq ft home for the same property. That difference happens because winter brings fewer buyers, longer market time (about 75 days in January vs. 48 days in April–June), and more motivated sellers. Use this study as a timing signal, then check local comps and current listings before you act. Make decisions on total cost — price plus mortgage rate and closing fees — and get preapproved so you can move quickly. For more context on monthly patterns, see reporting on the best and worst months to buy.