Best Time of the Year to Buy Coastal STR?

[Bryce Jamison]

Is there an ideal time of the year to buy a coastal STR? Specifically I'm targeting the southern NC coast.

If I close in the next few months we'll be heading into the slower season, so I'll have to cover the mortgage with the lowest rents of the year until spring. I'm also wondering if people will be more willing to negotiate in the fall / winter, especially if their property has been on the market for 30+ days.

A local realtor has told me prices on these types of homes are significantly increasing constantly and I'd be better off buying now because the prices will be much higher in a few months. While I do think prices are ever increasing, I tend to be very skeptical of realtor's advice due to the inherit conflict of interest. Yes, they should always act on your best interest, but they only get paid when you buy.