When is the best time to list your home for sale? It may be soon, study finds (2024)

FAQs

When is the best time to list your home for sale? It may be soon, study finds? ›

The Zillow-conducted study found that the best time for a person to sell their home is in the first half of June in the United States. "The shift to June suggests mortgage rates are strongly influencing demand on top of the usual seasonality that brings buyers to the market in the spring," Zillow wrote in a statement.

Broadly speaking, spring is generally the best time of year to sell your home. Many families need to be in their new home by the start of the school year, and house-hunting is easier when days are warmer and longer. Fall and winter typically see the lowest amount of homebuying activity.

In good weather buyers are more prepared to go house hunting. As such, Spring is a pretty up-beat time of year and often considered to be the time when the most buyers are active in the market. The flip side is that it's also when you can expect to be up against the greatest number of competing sellers.

Thursday is generally thought to be the best day of the week to list a house for sale. Studies show that homes listed on Thursdays are more likely to sell faster, and for a higher price. Talk to your agent about whether listing your property on a Thursday should be part of your home-sale strategy.

Most listings hit the market in a short window between the months of April and June. If you're planning to buy in a market with harsh winter weather, May and June typically have twice as many active listings as December or January. However, in temperate markets this springtime pattern is far less noticeable.

Selling before the two-year mark can be costly. “Staying long enough to hit 24 months can save you a significant amount of money on taxes,” says Jeremy Babener, a tax attorney and founder of Structured Consulting in Portland, Oregon. It's all about capital gains taxes.

But what really sets the spring season apart is the increase in demand, as families are eager to get settled before the school year begins and summer vacations commence. With more buyers in the market, you can expect bidding wars and higher offers, providing an excellent opportunity to get the best value for your home.

Nationally, the best time to sell a house is March if you're trying to sell quickly, while the best time to maximize profit is July. Zillow recommends listing your home for sale in March, but no later than Labor Day, based on historical market trends.

Typically, winter time is the slowest of the year to sell a property, specifically November, December, and January. However, there are some exceptions because there are several conditions that affect the housing market.

Generally speaking, late spring and summer are the peak real estate season, when there's the most inventory to choose from — but also the most competition, and the highest prices. If affordability is a concern, you're likely to score a better deal during the winter months.

What is the most popular day to list a house? ›

To sell for the most money, list on a Wednesday. To sell the fastest, list on a Thursday. When it comes to listing a home for sale, sellers don't want to leave anything to chance, including what day they list their home.

Winter may just be THE BEST time to hold an estate sale. During spring and summer there hundreds of Garage Sales or Yard Sales to compete with in the winter.

Most people schedule the closing date for 30-to-45 days after the offer has been accepted – and they do this for good reason. Mortgage lending is a document- and labor-intensive process that requires the various players to coordinate many different steps. Under the best of circ*mstances, it's a time-consuming effort.

The best months to sell a house are during the spring season, from April to October. Because the demand outweighs supply, housing prices increase, and homes sell faster. Meanwhile, the worst months to sell a house are November through March or during the winter, when potential buyers are preoccupied with holiday plans.

Best Time to Sell Your House for a Higher Price

April, June, and July are the best months to sell your house in California. The median sale price of houses in June 2023, was $796,400, which is expected to grow more in 2024. However, cities like Arcadia and San Mateo follow an upward trend throughout the year.

Winter is usually the cheapest time of year to purchase a home. Sellers are often motivated, which automatically translates into an advantage to you. Most people suspend their listings from around Thanksgiving to the New Year because they assume buyers are scarce.

Best Time to Sell Your House for a Higher Price

April, June, and July are the best months to sell your house in California. The median sale price of houses in June 2023, was $796,400, which is expected to grow more in 2024. However, cities like Arcadia and San Mateo follow an upward trend throughout the year.

The best months to sell a house are during the spring season, from April to October. Because the demand outweighs supply, housing prices increase, and homes sell faster. Meanwhile, the worst months to sell a house are November through March or during the winter, when potential buyers are preoccupied with holiday plans.

Strong Seller's Market: Experts predict a continued seller's market in early 2024 but with potential shifts later in the year. Selling now allows you to capitalize on high demand and potentially fetch a premium price. Limited Inventory: The housing market continues to face inventory shortages, which favors sellers.