Best time of year to buy a home...? (Atlanta, Alpharetta: loans, house)

[atlanta28]

Planning to buy a home this year and I'm wondering when home prices tend to be most discounted? My theory is that many homeowners & banks will put homes on the market in spring with higher prices. If the homes don't sell August (for example) then they will lower prices to try to sell the home before fall. Am I wrong? What really happens...?

btw... it this helps, we're planning to buy in Johns Creek or Alpharetta.

[IntownHomes247]

In Atlanta, the dead of winter is historically when prices are at their lowest. However, this year, you probably need to be paying more attention to interest rates on loans inching up. Prices are likely to continue softening and there are plenty of deals to be had, but every quarter point the interest rates tick up will mean many thousands of extra dollars over the life of your mortgage. Waiting months trying to time the market for low prices is likely to be counterproductive if it leads you to delay making a decision while the interest rates rise. Just don't get emotionally attached to a house before you've bought it. Make your decision based on the value of the home. Lock in a favorable interest rate. Negotiate to get a good deal, and if you can't come to agreement with the seller on a price that works for you, move on to another house. There are plenty of homes available. Some sellers can't or won't deal. Some will. But trying to time the market is almost always a losing strategy. Good luck!