Buying a home over the holidays has its perks. For example, you are likely to have less competition, and interest rates tend to be low during this time of the year. However, the season has its unique hurdles that are best handled by a professional real estate agent. Here are some of those hurdles:

The Pickings Are Slim

The holiday season tends to have fewer homes for sale compared to the other seasons. Many sellers take their homes off the market during this time because they assume buyers will be few. Therefore, you may need to house hunt more than usual; having a professional to help you to do it will make the process easier than doing it alone.

The Weather May Be Hiding Some Defects

During the year-end holidays, you also need a professional's input to help you sniff out potential defects hidden by weather elements. For example, if you are hunting for a house in a region that experiences heavy snowfalls, the snow may hide some defects on the roof. Heavy snowfalls may also cover an outdoor pool and make it difficult to ascertain the pool's condition.

 The Allure of Faster Closing

One of the incentives of buying a home over the holidays is the prospect of faster closing. This is possible because all parties to the sale will be motivated to close the deal. Here are some of the motivating factors:

• The seller wants to close the deal so that they can close their books for the year
• The buyer wants to close the deal and settle in their new house
• The agents want their commission before the year's end
• Everybody wants to get done with the business and enjoy the holidays

Unfortunately, faster closing can be a double-edged sword. You may be too focused on closing the deal before the end of the year and ignore due diligence. For example, you may be tempted to skip the inspection, especially if you find a beautiful property that ticks all factors in your checklist. A real estate agent will see to it that you don't skip any important step of the process.

You don't need a real estate agent to buy a house, but it's a good idea to have one. Using an agent makes even more sense if you expect to face specific issues that you aren't equipped to handle. Therefore, take advantage of the holiday spirit to buy your next house, but don't forget the need for due diligence. For more information, check out websites like http://www.augustahomestore.com/.