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If you’re in an industry that shuts down for the holidays, or when work is quiet … you probably don’t think, “What a great time to buy a home!” but it just may be. So just what are the benefits to house-hunting during your holiday break? Here’s a rundown to help you decide if signing on the dotted line while still in your sugar cookie coma is right for you.

You have more time—Life, simply put, gets in the way. Working from home, virtual school, lots of meal prep and additional cleaning all add up. But when your whole family is truly “off,” everything seems to slow down, and that’s something to embrace if you’re house hunting. Fewer time restraints allow you to really take the time necessary to look and evaluate homes and communities thoroughly.

You get to test the waters—Want to know what a home looks like at night, or the amenities in the general area? These are factors that can’t be truly appreciated without spending a significant amount of time in an area. Take a drive through different communities at different times to get a true feel for the environment, shopping and do a trial run of your future commute.

Homes will look better—It may seem odd, but sometimes a home looks better with holiday decorations. You can also check out the lights in the neighborhood, or community entrance. Plus, you can see whether your beloved faux Christmas tree will squeeze into that family room before you buy the home.

Less competition and more savings—Many people avoid shopping for homes around the holidays, and that should equal less competition for any home that fits your needs. December historically has lower home prices than any other month. There's no guarantee that this year will continue the trend, but it's worth checking the prices within your local market.

Make use of that holiday downtime, and you may just find the home of your dreams to ring in 2021.