As Old Man Winter grips many parts of the United States a common question I am asked is "Should I sell now ... or wait for spring?"

To answer this question we can roll back the clock to our Junior Economics class where Mrs. Glendowski regailed us with the riveting rhetoric of Supply and Demand.

Every year as winter arrives thousands of RVs and RVers go into hibernation for 4-6 months in many parts of the country. Demand in those areas slows down, and the supply from sellers is lower.

Meanwhile, in the Southeast and here in the Southwest, we carry on happily enjoying our Airstreams year around. From the Florida Keys to the California Coast, "winter" camping can be the best time of year to go RVing.

So market demand continues in many parts of the country, but overall supply tends to shrink. And that's a good thing for Sellers. You never know when the right buyer is coming along, and its why I typically advise sellers to get on the market now, rather than waiting until Spring.

The other question related to "Sell Now or Wait?" is market trends. If the market is trending UP, perhaps waiting for Spring is not a bad idea.

This fall (2023) we continue the trend of last fall with both pre-owned sales volumes and pricing declining over previous years levels.

In November2022 market demand for new towable RV's was down nearly 50 percent from 2021. That has repeated again in 2023.

Results for the RV Industry Association’s September 2023 survey of manufacturers found that total RV shipments ended the month with 24,700 units, a decrease of (-12.9%) compared to the 28,363 units shipped in September 2022. To date, RV shipments are down (-42.8%) with 238,121 units.

My 2023 MARKET PREDICTION WAS ACCURATE:

"The economic outlook for next year is uncertain at best, and I would expect these slow travel trailer sales to carry on through 2023. Any my price prediction for 2023 can be summed up in one word: LOWER. I don't see anything that suggests pre-owned prices will be higher next year than they are currently. "

WHAT'S AHEAD THROUGH THE WINTER AND INTO SPRING 2024?

With dealer inventory of 2023 models still high, and 2024 models now arriving, there's continued downward pressure on late model pre-owned units, as dealer discounts continue to rise. In other words, late model pre-owned units (2018 or newer) are competing with brand new discounted product from the dealers. This is keeping prices down in the late model pre-owned Airstream market. I expect that will continue through 2024.

Older pre-owned units (2000-2016ish) seemed to have leveled off a bit and may hold their own through the winter and into next year.

So when answering the question "now or later", my answer is STILL an emphatic NOW on late model Airstreams. If you're in the 2000-2018 crowd, prices may continue to ease a bit, but should not come crashing down into 2024.

If you are considering selling and need some advice on your particular situation, book a FREE CONSULTATION with me and let's discuss it.

Thanks for tuning in ... Happy Hunting !