They say that moving to a new place is one of life’s most stressful events. It’s no less stressful for your pooch, who is suddenly immersed not only in new surroundings, but new smells, a new yard, and a neighborhood of new people and pets. Just because you can chill out with a glass of wine after a day of unpacking or working at a new job doesn’t mean your furry friend has those skills.

It is and has, for some time now, been a seller’s market. Not enough homes have signs up on their front lawns these days, and not enough people are moving. Instead, they are staying put and even improving what they have. So how do you maneuver in a market like this?

For most of us, looking for the “perfect” home can be an emotional roller coaster. Like hunting online for the perfect partner in life, it’s hard to know what you’re getting even after studying the dozens of photos in any particular listing and reading all the copy contained there. 

We get it. With the exception of a few sun belt states, shopping for a house in the winter just seems off. The traditional time to go from listing to listing is spring and summer. But while things slow down this time of year, there are some hidden advantages to choosing it as your buying season. In fact, experts agree it might even be the BEST time to buy a home—if you can swing it.