Renting during Summer vs. Winter

[Brad Z.]

We are going into winter and i was wondering how much things slow down during hte cold months. I am currently doing some rehabbing/rent and hold and am wondering if I should pull back a bit going into the winter months. Do renters backoff in the cold midwest winters or is there still a steady demand?

[Account Closed]

It snows here, so anyone with any sense doesn't plan to move in the winter.

I get lots of rental applications in the winter, but they are mostly from people being evicted, so they must move and can't wait until spring.

I used to get the occassional good renter whose house had been sold out from under him, but not this year. Now, I get lots of applicants who claim their house has been foreclosed, but they all turn out to be people who are lying about being evicted.

My good renters in the winter have been people transferring in for a new job-- again, not this year. Businesses are laying off, not transferring employees.

Buyers tend to be thin during the winter, because they don't want to move in the snow, and don't think ahead to realize that by the time they get through escrow, it will be spring.