Here’s the Best Time to List Your House for Sale, According to New Data
No matter the circumstances, selling your house is stressful. It’s a time-consuming process that involves complex paperwork and important financial decisions, like when to list your house and how to market it to find the right buyer. But there’s one thing you do to score a bigger check from homebuyers: Sell your house in the spring.A new Zillow analysis of 1.6 million home sales in 2024 found that homes listed in the last two weeks of May sold for 1.6% more — about $5,600 on the average U.S. home. More in Real Estate”Spring is when most buyers are out shopping,” says Amanda Pendleton, home trends expert at Zillow. “The weather is mild, so it’s easy to get around to open houses and showings. Flowers are blooming and homes look better when the front yard isn’t covered with snow. But most importantly, a spring purchase allows a homebuyer to get settled before their summer vacation and the new school year begins.” It’s no surprise that a home will sell for more money when more buyers are competing for it. If they know others are interested, a buyer is more likely to make a competitive offer and act quickly to avoid a bidding war. Country wide, the second half of May was the best time to list in 2024, but Zillow’s research found the ideal time can vary widely by metropolitan area. It was as early as the second half of March in San Diego and Austin, and as late as the second half of November in Phoenix. For many cities, the first half of May was best: New York City, Denver, Orlando, Las Vegas and Kansas City. Other major cities found the highest prices in April: Los Angeles, Dallas, San Fransisco and Washington, D.C. “While there are some exceptions, real estate typically heats up in the spring, slows down slightly by late summer, sees another brief window of activity in the early fall and then cools off in the winter,” says Pendleton. Keep in mind: Zillow’s research is based on 2024 home sales and it’s not certain this year’s spring home buying season will follow last year’s pattern. The reality is most sellers don’t have the luxury of waiting for the right time to sell. “They might be experiencing life events that can’t wait — they’re starting a new job or have a new baby on the way,” says Pendleton. “An experienced local real estate agent will be able to help buyers find the best sale strategy, no matter the season.” Related StoriesAlyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries. More