It’s the most wonderful time of the year. And if you’re buying a home during the holidays, it can also be the most stressful.

With everything that’s happening in December, homebuyers could feel a little overwhelmed with the process of buying and moving.

But there are some upsides to moving during the holidays. The following five tips will give you peace of mind that everything will be just fine as you take on this exciting life event of moving into a new home.

Sellers are eager

Just like you, sellers might feel a little reluctant to move during the holidays.

But they might have extra incentive to sell quickly.

A new job opportunity or a major life change that requires relocation could be nudging them to sell. As they hustle to beat the clock, you might have a little extra leverage to get the deal done on terms that lean in your favor.

Quicker process

It’s the holidays for everyone. So when it comes down to the nitty gritty of closing on a home sale, everyone involved will want to get it done as quickly as possible and before year’s end.

Lenders and real estate agents, for example, prefer to have the transactions tallied on this year’s record book. And of course, it sure would be nice to receive that commission in time for Christmas.

This accelerated mindset means you’ll enjoy a faster closing process and more time with your family.

Unbeatable interest rates

Even with the typical slowdown of winter homebuying, interest rates remain historically low.

As a homebuyer, you’ll have comfort knowing that financing a home is as affordable as it’s ever been.

The savings of low interest rates will last for the duration of the loan. Those savings on interest paid will truly add up as the years pass by.

Holiday sales

If you plan to furnish your home with new furniture and appliances, you can take advantage of all the holiday sales and discounts.

There are plenty of clearance items and other special offers this time of the year.

But a word of caution: It’s important to be selective especially on financing any major purchases. The last thing you want is to disturb the home financing process.

Fewer competitors

While it’s true that the real estate market remains red hot, the winter months are also typically the slowest.

Like you, people don’t want to move over the holiday season.

So as you enter the real estate market you’ll have the upper hand of fewer competitors, bringing you extra holiday cheer on the road toward homeownership.

It’s no longer a surprise to learn that home prices are on the rise.

According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, or FHFA, the home price index posted its largest year-to-year gain this year. In Idaho, that translates into a 35% increase on the average price of a home.

Today’s home financing is an incentive because homebuyers want to enjoy historically low rates. Home pricing gains follow accordingly.

Homeowners such as yourself can benefit. Today’s market dynamic of high buyer demand and growing property values present homeowners twice the benefits.

While home prices are on the rise across the U.S., in every state in fact, Idaho experienced the biggest home-price appreciation. This increases home equity levels for all homeowners in the area.

As an investment, buying a home secures your family’s future. It also lets homeowners build wealth through their home equity. When prices go up, so does home value. It can also boost your financial flexibility. Equity is the current value of the home subtracted by what’s owed. And for many, the difference between the two figures is growing.

Armed with growing home equity, homeowners can do some flexing of their own in today’s market.

Low financing rates and high home values are two powerful forces. Homeowners can merge them to their advantage through a refinance loan.

A new loan makes it possible to enjoy even greater savings. Individuals who purchased their homes when mortgage rates were higher can slash their interest rate.

With a lower rate, the monthly mortgage payment drops. Homeowners can also reduce the length of the loan. Paying it off sooner only increases your savings over the life of the loan.

In addition, homeowners who’ve accumulated a large amount of equity over the last couple of years can put it to work for them. A cash-out refinance lets borrowers lower their interest rate and take out funds, which can otherwise be inaccessible or difficult to acquire.

A cash-out refinance can fund a major renovation, pay off debt or bankroll a large life investment such as an advanced degree.

When homeowners decide to do a cash-out refinance, their mortgage payment and loan will be folded into the same financing plan at the rate it costs to buy a home.

Borrowing money any other way can be more costly. Today’s low rate is a rare opportunity to both lower your interest rate and get an affordable loan that changes the game.

By refinancing your existing loan, the total finance charges may be higher over the life of the loan.  Lower rates typically have higher closing costs in the form of discount points.