Winter PCS Orders: Buying or Selling Over the Holidays

October 19, 2026 / melissadiaz / Comments Off on Winter PCS Orders: Buying or Selling Over the Holidays

Photo by JamesDeMers on Pixabay

Orders in Hand, Holidays Ahead

Most military moves happen in summer, but plenty of families get orders with a report date in December or January. If that’s you, you may be planning to buy, sell or both while everyone else is thinking about turkey, travel and gifts.

The good news: a holiday move can work in your favor. The market is quieter, the people still in it tend to be serious, and with a little planning you can keep the calendar from getting in your way.

What the Holiday Market Looks Like

According to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), December through February is the slowest stretch of the year for housing. Buyers and sellers are both less active, competition is at its lowest, and the median time a home spends on the market rises to about 49 days, compared with roughly 30 days in peak season.

NAR also notes that December is usually the month with the fewest listings. Inventory typically drops about 9.4% from November to December as many owners wait until after the holidays to list.

That cuts both ways:

  • Buyers see fewer homes, but also fewer competing offers.
  • Sellers see fewer buyers, but those buyers usually have a real reason to move now.
  • Everyone deals with vacations, office closures and shorter days.

If You’re Buying

Realtor.com reports that homes still on the market late in the year have often been sitting for weeks, which can make sellers more open to negotiating. It also notes that with fewer active buyers, there is often more room to ask for concessions, such as help with closing costs or a rate buydown.

A few ways to make the most of it:

  • Get preapproved early. Lenders, appraisers and title companies run on holiday schedules too. Having your financing lined up before Thanksgiving gives you a head start.
  • Look at homes that have been listed a while. A listing from September may now have a seller ready to talk.
  • Ask about the heating system. Winter is a good time to see how a home actually performs in the cold, from drafts to the furnace.
  • Build in time for weather. Snow or ice can delay inspections, appraisals and final walk-throughs in many parts of the country.

If You’re Selling

Fewer listings means less competition for your home. The buyers touring in December are often relocating for work, closing out a lease or on their own tight timeline, so they tend to move forward.

  • Price it right from day one. With homes taking longer to sell in winter, a realistic price keeps your listing from going stale.
  • Keep it bright and warm. Short days make lighting matter. Turn on lamps for showings and keep the thermostat comfortable.
  • Go easy on decorations. A wreath and a few lights feel welcoming. Crowded rooms and big displays make it harder for buyers to picture their own holidays there.
  • Keep paths clear. Shovel and salt walkways, steps and the driveway so buyers can get in safely.
  • Have photos ready. If you have good photos of the yard from spring or summer, ask your agent about including them.

Plan Around the Calendar

Holiday closures are the biggest timeline risk. Federal holidays this season fall on Thursday, November 26 (Thanksgiving), Friday, December 25 (Christmas) and Friday, January 1, 2027 (New Year’s Day), according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. Many lenders, title offices and county recording offices also close or run short-staffed on the days around them.

Your loan has its own clock, too. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) says you must receive your Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing. A holiday in the middle of that window can push your closing date, so ask your lender to plan for it.

On the military side, Army guidance shared by Military OneSource recommends avoiding moves around the holidays when possible, because those weeks are especially busy for moving companies. If your report date doesn’t give you that choice, contact your transportation office as soon as you have orders. MyArmyBenefits also advises against scheduling a home sale closing on the same day your household goods are packed, picked up or delivered.

A holiday wreath with red poinsettias and pine cones on a wooden front door
Photo by JamesDeMers on Pixabay

Keep the Holidays in the Plan

A move doesn’t have to cancel the season. A few habits help:

  • Pack the holiday box last. Keep a small box of decorations, stockings and a few family traditions with you instead of on the truck.
  • Ship gifts to your new address. Or wait and shop once you arrive, so you aren’t moving them twice.
  • Use the downtime. Agents and lenders who work through the holidays often have more time for each client.
  • Lean on your support center. Your installation’s Military and Family Support Center offers relocation help through its Relocation Assistance Program.

3 Steps to Take This Week

1. Map your dates: Write down your report date, the holiday closures and your preferred pack-out window. Work backward to set a target closing date that isn’t next to a holiday or a moving day.

2. Line up your team: Ask your agent, lender and title company about their holiday schedules now, and get preapproved or set your list price before Thanksgiving.

3. Call your transportation office: Request your moving dates as soon as you have orders, and ask how the holiday calendar affects pack-out and delivery.

The Bottom Line

Winter orders don’t have to mean a stressful sale or a rushed purchase. The holiday market is quieter, the buyers and sellers in it are motivated, and most of the risk comes from the calendar, which you can plan around. Start early, protect your key dates and lean on a local agent who knows your next duty station.

Sources

Posted in ,

melissadiaz