Get Your Keys Before the Holidays and Skip Payments Until 2027
Can you still buy a home before the holidays?
Yes. If you go under contract on a home in November, you can still close in December, hang your lights in your own house, and in most cases not make your first mortgage payment until February 2027.
I get this question every fall. Buyers assume that once Halloween passes, they've missed their window and should just wait for spring. Not true. You just need to start now.
Buying a home is super exciting. It's also likely the largest financial investment you'll make, so you want enough time to do it right. Here's how the timing works if you're just getting started in Morris or anywhere in Grundy County.
A sample timeline for a December closing
To close in December, you need to be under contract in November. Most financed purchases take about 30 to 45 days from accepted offer to closing day, so the math works if you start now.
Here's what that looks like:
Early November: Get pre-approved. Call a lender this week. Pre-approval tells you what you can comfortably spend and shows sellers you're serious.
Early to mid-November: Start touring homes. Reach out to your local agent and get showings on the calendar. Know your must-haves before you go so you can move when the right house comes up.
Mid-November: Go under contract. Once your offer is accepted, the clock starts. Inspection, appraisal, and underwriting all happen in this window.
Mid to late December: Close and get your keys. Then go find your holiday decorations in the moving boxes.
One honest heads-up. The later in November you go under contract, the closer your closing lands to Christmas. Lenders and title companies slow down around the holidays, so the earlier you start, the more breathing room you have.
Why buying during the holidays can work in your favor
As we get closer to the holidays, some buyers put their searches on hold until spring. They're busy, they're traveling, and house hunting falls off the list.
That could mean less competition for you. Fewer buyers looking at the same homes can give you more time to think and more room to negotiate. And sellers who list this time of year usually have a real reason to move, so they tend to be motivated.
Why your first mortgage payment isn't due until February 2027
This is the part most buyers don't know about. In most cases, you won't make a mortgage payment the month after you close.
Here's why. Rent is paid ahead, for the month you're about to live there. Mortgage payments work the other way. Each payment covers the month that just ended.
So if you close in December:
At closing, you pay the interest for the rest of December. This is called prepaid interest, and it's part of your closing costs.
January is your first full month in the house.
Your first payment, due February 1, 2027, covers January.
It doesn't matter much if you close on December 3 or December 22. Either way, the first payment usually lands on February 1. The closing day mostly changes how much prepaid interest you bring to the table. Close earlier in the month and you'll pay more interest at closing. Close later and you'll pay less.
Your exact first payment date will be on your Closing Disclosure, and your lender can walk you through the numbers before closing day. Having that extra month to settle in, buy a few things for the house, and enjoy the holidays is a pretty nice bonus.
Is a December closing right for you?
It might be if you:
Want to be settled in before the new year
Have a lease ending soon or are tired of paying rent
Like the idea of shopping with fewer buyers in the mix
And if spring makes more sense for your situation, that's okay too. Starting the conversation now still puts you ahead.
Thinking about a move in Grundy, Will, or LaSalle County?
If buying before the end of the year is on your radar, I'd love to help you map out your timeline. We can talk through your budget, what you're looking for, and whether a December closing is realistic for you. You can grab my free buyer's guide HERE.
If you're thinking about buying in Morris, Minooka, Channahon, Coal City, or anywhere around Grundy County, send me a message or text me at 815-693-5757. We'll talk through your options and figure out the offer strategy that fits how you actually want to live. You can also grab my free home buyer's guide here:
– Christy Schmaedeke 🐾
