Winter is often stigmatized in the real estate industry as the worst season for a home to be on the market. But the opposite may be true, particularly in resort cities where skiing and other snow sports attract hundreds each year and second-home buying is common.

Depending on the type of home and location, winter is, in fact, the prime selling season in which low inventory reduces competition and buyers are generally limited to serious ones.

“Many owners make a decision to take their home off of the market during the winter, yet this is one of the best times to consider having a home on the market,” said Don Ricedorff, a Realtor with The Wells Group. “This is especially true if it is an in-town home, i.e. Durango and/or Bayfield, or in subdivisions that live like in-town homes, such as Edgemont Ranch, Edgemont Highlands, Durango West and Dalton Ranch. Certainly, there are fewer buyers during the winter months, but there are also fewer homes on the market for competition, and the buyers who are looking may be more serious about buying.”

That’s inspired Sherri Goering to keep her Edgemont Ranch home, which has been listed since June, on the market through winter.

“Buyers may be fewer in the winter months, but their quest to find a home may be heightened,” Goering said. “The lower inventory during the colder months may prove advantageous for a sale.”

Goering believes her home has year-round appeal and will present “beautifully” under a blanket of snow.

Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, recently said in Forbes that approximately 1 million consumers will purchase a home between this November and January 2016.

And a report published in 2013 by real estate brokerage Redfin reinforces the idea that winter is the best season to put a home on the market. Analyzing homes from the first day of spring in 2011 through the first day of spring in 2013, the company found that not only do homes in winter have a higher likelihood of selling, they sell faster and closer to list price. The report found that homes are 65 percent likely to sell in winter, compared with the 56 percent likelihood of homes selling in spring – the supposed prime real estate season.

Homes sold in winter spent an average 26 days on the market, compared to the average 32 in spring and summer and 34 days in fall.

The study also compared the likelihood of selling within six months in 19 major metro areas across the nation. Chances were highest in Denver at 77 percent.

There are some downsides associated with the winter market. Properties that are remote, require significant upkeep during the cold months or have high landscaping value that’s more attractive in spring, summer and fall will likely have more success on the market during those seasons.

A winter move can be difficult for buyers or sellers with children in school. Real estate agents also find many don’t want to move during the holiday season, but some don’t have a choice.

Christina Rinderle, broker and owner of Durango Land & Homes, said winter is a great time to sell because the cold season tends to weed out leisure shoppers, leaving only serious buyers perusing the market.

“Those people are not just looking at homes for fun,” Rinderle said. “They have to move, relocate to the area or have a certain time frame they’re trying to hit. But we do get a lot of visitors during the holidays that fall in love with Durango. That plants the seed.”

Kelly Kniffin, a broker with Sotheby’s, said she showed more homes than she expected over the Thanksgiving holiday, and most of the people were not looking casually.

Kniffin said if a house has been on the market for a long time, winter may be a good time for a break, but she generally encourages winter selling.

“If it’s in the ski area, you definitely want to be on the market,” she said.

If you do decide to sell in winter, there is extra work involved. Homeowners are advised to stock up on photos of the house in the spring or summer or else wait for a decent snowfall to transform the property into a winter wonderland.

And small, homey touches go a long way in showing the house: the smell of something baking, tasteful holiday decorations, a freshly painted porch, mulched garden beds and lighting are nuances that can often make or break a sell.

jpace@durangoherald.com