This year, Realtor.com says that April 13–19 was the best week to put your house on the market. You may be wondering, “Did I miss my chance?” now that that week is over. Not at all, and here’s why.
That’s just one source’s opinion, based on their own research. Similar studies are done by other groups. And because researchers in different places use different methods, the results aren’t always the same. But that’s good news for you. Zillow says that now is still the best time to put your house on the market.
Data from last year’s home sales by Zillow shows that sellers who put their homes on the market in late May tend to get higher prices. This is why the study says it:
Search activity usually peaks before Memorial Day, when people start looking for homes seriously before summer break and the start of the school year in the fall. If sellers wait until late spring, they can list their home when most people are looking. When there are more people looking to buy a home, sellers can ask for a higher price.
They’re not the only ones who say that selling in May can help people get the most money. A similar study was done by ATTOM Data, which looked at 59 million home sales over the last 13 years:
Recently collected sales data from ATTOM shows that home sellers are still getting a lot of benefits from putting their homes on the market in May. Looking at patterns of home sales over thirteen years shows that, on average, sellers are asking for 11.1% more than the home is worth on the market.
A Bankrate article agrees with this and ties everything together to show that any time in April or May is a good time:
Some patterns and trends stay the same all year long. For example, spring is still the best time to sell something. People can make a lot more money if they sell in April or May, which are the busiest months.
The window to sell during peak times is still very much open, so now is the time to act if you want to make really good money.
Having said that, the best week to put your house on the market depends on things like buyer demand, the number of homes for sale in the area, and how quickly things are selling. That’s why it’s important to work with an agent who has experience and knows the area well.
Bottom Line
Spring is the busiest season for real estate, but you still have time to make the most of it.
The thing that’s stopping you from moving this spring. What would make you feel ready? Talk to an agent about it.