When is the Best Time to Sell a House?
Early spring is the best time to sell a house. Home sales vary by area. Research home sales in your area to determine the best time to sell your house.
Written by Elizabeth Sandberg
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Table of Contents
- What is the best season to sell a house?
- What is the best month to sell a house?
- What is the best day of the week to sell a house?
- Selling in a buyer’s market vs. selling in a seller’s market
- Selling your house when mortgage rates drop
- What to expect if you want to sell your home in 2022
- What is the typical timeline for selling a home?
- Remember, sell when you’re ready
- How to find affordable home insurance
Load full table of contents
Usually, March is the best month to put your house on the market in the U.S. if you want to sell quickly. Whereas—if you’re looking to get the most profit from your home sale— listing in late June may be the best time for you to get the highest return on your investment.
That being said, there are additional factors that should influence when you put your home on the market, including how much equity you have in your home, whether or not it’s a buyer’s or a seller’s market, and much more.
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What is the best season to sell a house?
Generally speaking, no matter where you’re located across the U.S., early spring is the best time to put a house on the market.
For many years, real estate guidelines pointed to May as the best month to put a house on the market, but more recent trends indicate March has the greatest number of home sales.
But remember, this is far from being a hard rule. Your local housing market will also dictate the best time to sell your home. When market conditions are at their peak in your area, it might not matter what time of year you put your home up for sale.
What is the worst season to sell a house?
Winter is typically the slowest season to sell a home, with December and January showing the slowest home sales historically. You may be at an advantage if your house is located in a warmer climate, such as Florida or the Southwest. Folks fleeing colder weather for sunnier locales may be more apt to purchase a home even in the winter months.
Likewise, even colder regions can be desirable to home buyers if they are near popular tourist destinations. If your house is in a resort area somewhere in the Northwest, for example, you may find interested buyers even in the mid-winter months.
What is the best month to sell a house?
In recent years, March has outranked May for the highest home sales.
In 2021, homes put on the market during March 11 and 18 sold the fastest. While this holds true no matter where you live in the U.S., other factors must also be taken into consideration—such as the condition of your home, curb appeal, location, and market trends in your area.
What is the worst month to sell a home?
December is typically the worst month to try to sell a house. There are always exceptions, but home buying slows down considerably and home availability is often very low during the last month of the year. January is not much better, as home sales pick up only marginally at the beginning of the year.
What is the best day of the week to sell a house?
Thursday is the best day of the week to first put your house on the market. Homes that are listed on Thursdays sell the quickest and for the most money.
Sundays are the worst day to first list your home. People start actively looking at houses just before the weekend, so houses listed on Sundays tend to stay on the market 8 or more days longer than houses listed on Thursdays.
Selling in a buyer’s market vs. selling in a seller’s market
It’s considered a buyer’s market when there are more properties on the market than there are people interested in buying. When this happens, houses remain on the market longer, and sellers may have to sell below asking price or offer other incentives to entice buyers to make an offer.
A seller’s market occurs when housing inventory is low, and many buyers are competing for fewer properties. Seller’s markets can result from a growing number of buyers in an area, lower mortgage rates, or decreased construction of new homes. Lower inventory can also result in bidding wars among buyers, making it possible for you to sell your home for more than your original asking price.
Selling your house when mortgage rates drop
Lower mortgage rates typically encourage home purchases, as lower rates mean a buyer can stretch their money further. Until recently, mortgage rates have been at all-time lows. While they have risen slightly in 2022, rates are expected to remain competitive. This means home sellers can still benefit from the buyer demand created by attractive mortgage rates.
What to expect if you want to sell your home in 2022
Real estate trends in 2022 are already shaping up to be beneficial to home sellers. Inventory of both new and existing homes is expected to remain low throughout 2022.
One reason for the limited homes on the market is that many sellers who took advantage of low interest rates to refinance their homes over the past two years are not as motivated to sell right now. The pandemic and rising inflation are also impacting people’s decisions, as fewer are choosing to sell their homes.
Current supply chain issues are further compounding the problem for new home construction, and may not be improving anytime soon. This means
buyers are competing
for fewer new homes on the market. Low inventory of properties on the market, combined with competitive mortgage rates, can mean excellent opportunities if you choose to sell your home in 2022. With increased competition for the purchase of homes, buyers are motivated to pay top dollar, are willing to close quickly, and are less likely to ask for concessions from the seller.
What is the typical timeline for selling a home?
Sellers usually take seven to eight months to think about selling their house before actually putting it on the market. During this time, they often choose to make some updates or improvements on the home. Once listed, the process can take an average of a month or two to close. This includes 25-30 days on the market, and a typical closing period of 30-45 days.
With these factors in mind, you’ll want to give yourself about two months to prepare your house for sale. Use this time to research the real estate market in your area, hire a competent agent, make minor repairs, and clean in and around your home to remove clutter and improve curb appeal.
Remember, sell when you’re ready
Ultimately, your unique circumstances determine the best time for you to sell your home. Many factors come into play when you make the decision to put your house on the market. Life events such as job changes, relocation, marriage, children, and downsizing are common reasons people choose to sell their home.
Emotional factors can make it difficult to choose to put your home on the market. Even when life events result in the need to sell your house, the memories associated with your home can make it difficult to let go. When possible, give yourself time to prepare and come to terms with the need to sell.
Sometimes the possibility of financial gain makes it a no-brainer to put your house on the market. If you’ve built up considerable equity in your home, it could be a wise decision to sell your house. Depending on your situation, you could put the money toward the purchase of your dream home, or keep it as a nest egg for peace of mind in your retirement.
No matter when you decide to put your home on the market, research and proper planning will go a long way toward making the most of your sale.
Key Takeaway Your personal situation is ultimately what determines the best time for you to sell your home.
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