As the temperatures start to cool, so does the real estate market in Arizona. But history also shows this is the time of year where buyers can find some good deals on homes, thanks to human nature.

Most people's lives are set to a certain rhythm, often determined by the calendar. A year is not so much 365 consecutive days as a series of events - birthdays, anniversaries, holidays - with gaps in between. We see this much more as children, where planning for the next birthday starts the day after the last. But it's true of almost all people that certain periods lead to certain mindsets.

One of those periods is the fall holiday season. No matter whether you celebrate Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa (or in an old friend's case, the winter solstice), there is a certain image of hearth and home, of being in your own home with friends and family to celebrate the season. (And I also picture a healthy supply of egg nog nearby, but that's just me.)

But this picture is somewhat different for someone selling their home. Perhaps they've already moved out of their house and are making two payments. Maybe they're still in their home and are facing the possibility of having strangers traipse through their house during the holidays. Or possibly they're worried that the offer they have been waiting for finally has arrived, but with a closing date in early or mid-December.

Add these factors to the motivation many sellers already are feeling and the conditions are excellent for buyers looking to purchase. And when you factor in the recent drop in interest rates (one of my mortgage folks said today there are programs with rates in the 6.0s) combined with realistic pricing already taking place and it is, to coin a phrase, Christmas come early.

If you've been debating whether to purchase a home, this may be a good time to start the search. If you've been searching for sometime but sitting on the sidelines, this might be a good time to get serious. In the Republic this weekend, an article pointed out that home sales have declined but prices in many areas have remained flat (Surprise for example) or even increased (as they have in Peoria.)

Automated listings updates based on your criteria are one of the many services Tobey and I provide to our clients, and have been found to save considerable time when searching for your next home.

Of course, if you're not quite ready to make the move for any reason, there's no need to rush. We'll still be here whenever you're ready. But if you've been on the fence and are looking for a reason to make the jump, the coming of the holidays might just be that catalyst.

(c) Jonathan Dalton, 2006 / Jonathan Dalton's Arizona Homes