While real estate never rests, it's important to know the best times to sell a house. Real estate agents and brokers are constantly watching market trends and metrics like median sales price throughout the year to time their sales perfectly. Seasonal factors can have a significant effect, as do other local and economic conditions.
So, how do you know the best time to sell? Here are some tips for timing a home sale:
How much difference can a well-timed sale make?
Timing your home sale can make a difference of up to 10% in total sale price. This means choosing the right time can help you get a higher asking price, while slower months might force you to choose lower offers.
The best time to sell a house in your market
The best seasons for selling can vary by location, but typically the spring and summer months are the best for house selling. It's most common to put your home on the real estate market during June or July.
Worst times to sell
There are multiple factors that can determine the "worst" time to sell. Often, the weather has a significant impact. Even in regions with mild winters, buyers are less likely to actively home search in colder seasons.
Another factor is competition and activity in your local market. While this can change every year, working with a real estate agent to track and predict market trends will help you sell even if conditions aren't perfect.
Selling during winter months
Winter, especially during the holiday season, is a very slow time to sell homes. Cold weather and holiday travel keep potential buyers busy. However, if somebody is considering buying a home in the upcoming spring, they may be browsing listings online from the warmth of their own home. This is one scenario when a "coming soon" listing can give you a competitive edge.
Timing home sales carefully can mean a quicker sale and a higher price, especially if you work with a real estate professional. While the world of real estate is constantly moving and changing, you can keep these guidelines in mind for finding the best time to sell.
About the Author
Kyung Kim
Hi, I'm Kyung Kim. I immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1968 when I was 7 years old. I have seen my mom struggle with the English language and work hard to raise her four kids by herself. Still to this day, I don't know how she pulled it off, but she bought her first home in 1979 for $70,000 and because of that decision, she was able to live without worrying about her financial future. I want that for everyone, to feel the pride of home ownership and to build their financial wealth using real estate as part of their financial portfolio. I feel so blessed to play a small role in helping others reach this goal.
I live in Beaverton with my husband, Richard. My mom, who lived with us for several years, passed away in our home in February 2022. Her first home purchase in 1979 made it possible for her to live to the very end, without worrying about her finances. As of August 2022 with a little downpayment assistance, our four children own their own homes. Being in real estate, I quickly realized that if they didn't buy now, they may be priced out of the market in the future. Whether that would have been the case, we will never know, but what we do know is that they are all realizing some good, healthy appreciation in their home values.
As passionate as I am about people owning their homes, I'm also passionate about giving back to our community. I support Compassion First, a non-profit organization that provides aftercare for sex trafficked girls in Indonesia. My husband and I also feel called to financially support social injustice organizations.
I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.
