When Is The Best Time To Sell A House?

Selling a home requires lots of preparation, and it begins with determining the best time to put it on the market. Listing your home at the appropriate time will not only sell faster, but you may be able to sell it at a higher price than you would at other times of the year. Traditionally, spring is the best time to sell a house, but other factors come into play as well.

Here’s a guide to help you decide the best time to sell your home.

When Is The Best Time Of Year To Sell A House?

The best time of year to sell a house in the United States is the spring. Homes that are listed at the end of spring and the beginning of summer typically sell faster at a higher sales price. Families prefer to move into their new home before the start of the school year, and house-hunting is much easier in springtime weather.

Real estate agents often try to have their listings hit the market between April and June on a Friday or Saturday. Sellers often receive more offers, and home prices tend to increase during this time due to greater competition and lower housing inventory.

Worst Time Of Year To Sell A House

The worst time of the year to sell a house is during the winter. Prospective buyers are often busier because of the holidays, and the unfavorable weather makes touring properties and moving a bit trickier. However, not all regions of the country experience harsh winters. The selling season is also dependent on the local climate.

Staging your home is vital if you plan to sell your home during this unpopular time of the year. Home staging may attract more buyers and help your home sell faster. Staging makes the home more aesthetically pleasing and helps buyers envision themselves living in the home.

Best Month To Sell A House

Waiting to sell your home in May when the weather warms up can potentially result in higher seller premiums. An analysis of real estate market trends from 2011 and 2022 by Attom Data Solutions revealed that April, May and June offer seller premiums of 10% or more above market value, and the top 16 best days to sell in May alone. The premium or discount paid on a given day was calculated by comparing the median sales price for homes with a purchase closing on that day with the median automated valuation model (AVM) for those same homes at the time of sale.

The time of the year has a substantial effect on home sales. The median sales price and seller premium were notably higher during the spring and summer months. May had the highest seller premium of 12.8%, while November had the lowest at 6.3%. The median sales price was the lowest in January and February ($200,000) and the highest in June ($228,000).

Using data from Attom, here’s the best time of year to sell your house:

Best Day Of The Week To List A House

You can list your house any day of the week, but the National Association of REALTORS^® (NAR) recommends listing your home on a Thursday or Friday. A new listing that appears later in the week may gain more visibility as potential buyers prepare to go house hunting. Buyers typically tour homes on the weekend, and homes listed at the end of the week are more likely to stay top-of-mind.

How Seasons Impact The Best Time To Sell A House

Spring is considered the best time to sell a house, but you can successfully sell your home at any time of the year. Let’s take a look at how each season impacts home sales.

Selling A House In The Spring

Houses tend to look their best in the spring. Blooming trees and plants and natural sunlight can do wonders for a home’s curb appeal. Demand is also at its highest in the spring when serious buyers take advantage of the warmer weather and begin searching for a new home.

Additionally, lots of buyers prefer to make a purchase earlier in the year and settle into their new home before the start of the school year. With more buyers competing with one another, you’re more likely to receive more offers and sell your house quickly at a higher price.

The biggest downside to selling in the spring is that you’ll also be competing with other sellers. Because buyers have a greater selection of homes to choose from, you’ll have to take steps to make your home stand out in the real estate market. Pay attention to comparable sales to ensure your home is priced to sell. Review current listings to make sure your home is not in worse condition or priced higher than other listings.

Selling A House In The Summer

By June and July, there’s slightly less competition for sellers. Curb appeal is still high during the summer, and pleasant weather offers a better experience during showings. Also, families with school-aged children will feel more pressure to make a purchase before the start of the school year. This means they’ll be more likely to make a serious offer and want to close quickly.

If a home is still sitting on the market from spring, it may be a sign that it's overpriced or has other issues that deterred potential buyers. After the rush of buyers flooding the market during the spring, sellers will have a better understanding of what buyers are willing to pay for comparable homes and price competitively.

Demand may drop from its springtime high, so you may need to make some adjustments, such as improving curb appeal or investing in home improvements to entice buyers. As temperatures rise, make sure your air conditioner is in good condition to keep your home comfortable for showings.

Selling A House In The Fall

Real estate activity starts to slow when the leaves begin to fall and temperatures cool. There are still some eager buyers looking to close on a new home before the holidays, but others may hold off on their house hunt until the weather warms up again. It’s also a time of year when buyers will look for better deals, along with the need for sellers to consider dropping prices to attract buyers.

Fall foliage can help boost your home’s curb appeal, but make sure to keep up with your fall cleaning checklist, such as raking leaves and cleaning the gutters, to ensure your home looks its best.

Selling A House In The Winter

Once winter arrives, the majority of buyers are in hibernation mode. Activity drops during the winter as buyers are less inclined to go out into the harsh weather to attend open houses. Your home may receive fewer offers and sit on the market longer, but because it’s a less popular time to list a home on the market, there’s also less competition when appealing to buyers. Don’t be surprised if you receive lowball offers and be prepared to negotiate.

Sellers must also contend with lower curb appeal. If you plan to sell, consider staging a home for the holiday season. Break out your decorations and bring some holiday cheer to your entryway to help draw attention to your home.

Selling Your House In A Seller’s Or Buyer’s Market

Whether it's a seller’s or buyer’s market can also make a big impact on home sales no matter the time of year.

In a seller’s market, housing demand typically exceeds supply. This gives sellers the upper hand and allows them to maximize the sale price of their home. On the other hand, a buyer’s market is when the housing supply exceeds demand. As a result, prices are lower, and homes sit on the market longer. Sellers must compete with each other to attract potential buyers, and buyers have more room to negotiate.

Tips For Selling In A Seller’s Market

A seller’s market often comes with bidding wars, higher prices and faster sales. Here are some tips to help you navigate your home sale in a seller’s market.

• Prepare for possible appraisal issues: The appraisal being lower than the offer may cause problems when selling in a seller’s market. Even if the buyer agrees to the listing price, they may not be able to close as mortgage lenders typically won’t approve a loan larger than the appraised value. Sellers have several options in this scenario, such as reducing the sale price or covering some of the buyer’s closing costs to free up the buyer’s cash.
• Have the next home lined up: Most homes sell quickly in a seller’s market, so you’ll need to buy and sell at the same time. This means you’ll need to have your next home lined up and prepare to move out quickly.
• Don’t overinvest in staging or renovations: Don’t spend too much money or time making your home ready for market. In a seller’s market, buyers are more willing to overlook outdated appliances or cosmetic issues than they would in a buyer’s market.

Tips For Selling In A Buyer’s Market

Selling a home in a buyer’s market is possible, but it may take some extra work. Consider using these tips to help you sell your home when supply outpaces demand for housing.

• Invest in repairs: Sellers may need to invest in repairs when selling in a buyer’s market, especially if something fails a home inspection. Consider making repairs before listing your home on the market. Making repairs could even help increase the value of your home.
• Offer to pay closing costs: Both buyers and sellers typically pay a portion of closing costs. In a buyer’s market, sellers can offer to cover the closing costs.
• Focus on curb appeal: When buyers have more houses to choose from, make sure your home stands out by boosting its curb appeal. Spend some time and money refreshing your home’s landscaping, along with the driveway, walkway and other exterior areas or features that need some attention.

Should You Sell Your House During A Recession?

Whether or not you should sell your house during a recession depends on your personal circumstances. Selling during a recession can work out in your favor if you’re willing to rent or downsize to a smaller home. This allows you to lower your monthly payments and save money. Buyers may also have lower expectations and may be more willing to accept a home in need of repairs.

There are downsides to selling during a recession. When money is tight, there may be fewer qualified buyers, and your home could sit on the market for a longer period of time before it sells. And when there are fewer home buyers, sellers often have to lower their prices to attract offers.

How To Know If It’s The Best Time For You To Sell Your House

To help determine if it’s the best time to sell your house, here are common reasons it may be a good time to sell.

• Necessary relocation: Relocating and moving neighborhoods or school districts can make it a good time to sell a house no matter the time of year.
• Home improvements complete: Making home improvements could increase the value of your home or make it more enticing to home buyers.
• Need to downsize: If your home is too big for you now, downsizing can help lower your mortgage and other costs associated with homeownership.

How To Know If You Should Wait To Sell Your House

There are other considerations to help determine if it might be better to wait to sell your house, such as:

Rising rates: When mortgage rates are going up, you’re more likely to receive a lower offer on your home. Waiting until mortgage rates go down could result in a higher offer.

Home in poor condition: If your home is in poor condition and needs repairs, it may not be the best time to sell. Unless you’re selling a house as-is, consider making repairs and improvements to increase the value of your home.

Recent refinance: You can sell after refinancing, but you may end up losing money if you sell before the breakeven point.

The Bottom Line: The Best Time To Sell A House Depends On Many Factors

The best time to sell a house is typically in the spring, but it also depends on the local market and your circumstances. Ideally, you’ll want to sell in a seller’s market. When demand is high and supply is low, you’re more likely to sell quickly for more money. However, you should consider selling if your situation requires it, such as a job relocation or the need to downsize, regardless of the time of year.

Ready to sell your home? Connect with an agent today to begin the process.