For sale: 10 homes that belong on a holiday card
Thinking of selling a home during or directly after the holidays? It can be difficult to decide how much of your festive décor to show off.
Does your ceramic reindeer collection make the living room look cheerful or messy? Does your Griswold-worthy Christmas light display give your house an inviting glow, or does it blind potential buyers to the home's charms?
In real estate, it's best to take a less-is-more approach to the holidays. Keep in mind that too many decorations can make a home seem cluttered, and you want to present the property in the most neutral way possible. Also, certain decorations may be off-putting to potential buyers who don't celebrate in the same way.
Some houses, however, look like they're in the holiday spirit even before sellers add twinkling lights and evergreen wreaths. These 10 homes from around the country -- from North Pole, Arkansas, to a home on Reindeer Run in Christmas, Michigan -- sport cheery red doors, festive trim and other details to put you in the holiday spirit.
And while fewer people may be shopping for homes in December and January after splurging on the holidays, waiting until spring to list a home may not be the best move.
"You're better off being the only game in town when it's time to sell," real estate expert Brendon DiSimone wrote in a recent Zillow blog post. "The more homes on the market, the more the buyers spread out." Still, he continued, it may be smart to include a few listing photos of your home during warmer months to give potential buyers a more comprehensive look at its possibilities.
Click through to check out 10 houses on the market right now that belong on the front of a holiday card.
Kings Beach, California
This festive little cabin is all dressed up for the holidays with its green trim, red door and red shutters with Christmas tree cutouts.
The cabin is listed for sale at $249,000 and has a gas log fireplace. It also features granite countertops and a partial basement.
Tiskilwa, Illinois
This red and white Victorian Gothic house already looks like it has icicles with its white porch trim. The home has four bedrooms and two bathrooms and is for sale at $130,000.
The house also has four fireplaces, one of which as a built-in Dutch oven, and a mother-in-law apartment in the basement.
Dillon, Montana
This red and green Victorian home looks festive year-round. The four-bedroom, two-bathroom house is listed for sale at $429,000.
The 3,933-square-foot home has two fireplaces, hand-carved molding and a fenced backyard with a garden.
Albert Lea, Minnesota
Red painted brick on this four-bedroom, eight-bathroom Victorian (as well as its gingerbread-reminiscent architecture) gives the home a cheery holiday look. It is for sale for $329,000.
The home was built in 1898, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was once a bed and breakfast. It features stained glass, a fireplace and built-in china cabinets.
Saint Louis, Missouri
This charming cottage is worth a journey over the river and through the woods. The two-bedroom, two-bathroom home is for sale at about $250,000.
It has hardwood floors, stained glass windows and stainless steel appliances.
Christmas, Michigan
It doesn't get much more festive than a red and green home located on Reindeer Run in the town of Christmas, Michigan. The five-bedroom, one-bathroom home is listed for sale at about $90,000.
The (remarkably inexpensive) house features a fireplace, eat-in kitchen and some seriously bright walls.
North Pole,Arkansas
This cozy two-bedroom log cabin is located in the appropriately holiday-themed town of North Pole, Arkansas, and is for sale at about $160,000.
The rustic home surrounded by tall pine trees is warmed by two oil heaters and a wood stove. The property features a wood shed, large front porch and a small kitchen.
Downers Grove, Illinois
This three-bedroom cottage is dressed in the green, red and gold color scheme of the season and features whimsical exterior details like decorative carvings and multi-colored beams. It's listed for sale at $294,000.
The home was built in 1906 and has two bathrooms, a finished partial basement and a backyard with a patio, pond, fountain and terrace.
Seattle, Washington
This red, green and gold Victorian house is for sale at about $2.8 million. Even without holiday decorations, it looks like it could have been a featured location in "A Christmas Carol."
It has mountain and lake views, four bedrooms, four bathrooms, several fireplaces, stained glass windows and a hot tub.
Jacksonville, North Carolina
This snow white house with a cheery red door would look beautiful dressed up for the holidays with evergreen wreaths and garlands. It's currently on the market for $479,000.
The home has five bedrooms, four bathrooms, a media lounge, several fireplaces, a large back deck and a detached garage.