Seasonal trends, like weather, days on the market (DOM), average home prices, and market competitiveness, affect how easy and how much it will be to sell a house. Data and experience show that the best months to sell a home are from spring through late summer (April to October), while the worst time to sell a house is from fall to winter (November to March).
For the highest profit, sell anywhere in May and June and avoid selling in December and January. Whether you’re a homeowner, a real estate agent representing a seller, or an investor, knowing when to hit the market is vital to closing the best deal.
Important note: The real estate statistics in this article are based on nationwide surveys and data collected across the US. Specific data may vary depending on your location across the country, influencing real estate market trends and the best and worst times to sell a house.
Most profitable months to sell a house: May and June
I recommend selling a house between April and October, as buyer demand outpaces the number of homes available for sale, allowing homeowners to sell their properties for higher prices. For the best timing, data shows that the most profitable and quickest sales tend to be from May to June.
During these months, homes are often sold for more than the listing price, and the median DOM is much lower. It’s a pretty consistent trend, so competition tends to get tough during this period. However, houses still sell quickly because of the increased demand.
Some locations are more heavily impacted by seasonality trends. The NAR’s data shows that southern states are more prone to these fluctuations, either because of weather conditions or tourism influxes. Additional factors influencing buyer demand in local markets include interest rates, interstate migration, unemployment, income levels, and market conditions. Read our article on the States With the Best & Worst Housing Markets to learn more.
Why May & June are the most profitable months to sell a house
The end of spring marks a good time for homebuyers to be out and about, which makes it a prime time for looking for a home. Because of this trend of increased demand, the market sees bidding wars, which are further fueled by the quick turnaround of properties in the market.
Highest home prices
June is the best month to sell a house if you’re looking for a higher profit from the sale. The high demand and low inventory are some factors that drive housing prices up, allowing sellers to charge more for their properties.
Data from the Federal Bank of St. Louis’ FRED shows that trend perfectly, with median sale prices in June 2024 peaking at $426,900, followed by a sharp decline toward January. Sales prices have picked up and look to once again follow that same trend, with May ending at $422,800.
More homes sold above list price
According to data from Redfin, the percentage of homes sold above the list price peaked in June 2024 at about 35%. While the percentage is lowering month-over-month, the overall trend seems to follow, with May 2025 (the last data point as of writing) at 31% and increasing.
In the past five years, the percentage of homes being sold above the listing price typically peaks around May to June — so it’s a good idea to sell your home during this time span.
Lowest median DOM
DOM points to the average number of days it took before properties were taken off the market, so a low median indicates that it’s a seller’s market. The same data charts from Redfin show that May and June have the lowest median days (both 33 days in 2024) — and the year-over-year data reflects the same trend, with May, June, and July having the lowest median DOM.
Least profitable months to sell a house: December and January
The worst period to sell a house is from November to March. Compared with the previous period, buyer demand is low, and there’s usually an overflow of supply. This leads to extended DOM for most properties, and that often comes with drops in prices.
If you really need to sell, then avoid the months of December and January. Data shows that these months typically have the lowest prices and longest DOM for properties. Given that, I would recommend holding off at least until February if you’re not in a hurry.
Pro tip: It’s not impossible to sell during this period, but you’ll need to invest more time and effort. I suggest exploring new marketing options and improving your lead generation and sales funnel systems — you’ll want to get as many clients and leads into your pipeline as possible to increase your chances of making a sale. You should also consider attending community events and business gatherings to broaden your reach.
Why December & January are the least profitable months to sell a house
December and January are typically when the cold weather peaks, and most homebuyers would prefer to stay indoors to spend quality time with their loved ones over the holidays. This lower demand increases the number of houses in the market, pushing prices down for listings to remain competitive.
On top of that, average DOM goes up, which doesn’t just mean a longer wait for a home to sell. It also runs the risk of impacting its sellability. Properties that have a longer DOM tend to turn off buyers, causing them to question what’s wrong with your listing.
Lower homebuyer demand
Historically, December and January are slow months for house sales. Data collected by Trading Economics reflects this, but interestingly, the lowest dips in 2023 and 2024 fall in the months of October and September, respectively.
While December and January are still on the lower end overall, this goes to show how factors like high mortgage rates and increased prices can ultimately impact long-standing trends.
Lower home prices
The winter months are typically when home prices are lowest. Apart from the holiday celebrations keeping people too busy to house-hunt, the cold weather in most states keeps a lot of potential homebuyers indoors. The same sale price data listed above from FRED shows the lowest median in January 2025 at $393,400 — almost $40,000 lower than May 2025’s median prices.
Higher median DOM
If you want to sell your house quickly, January and February are the worst months to sell a home. With a new year starting, work obligations picking up after the holidays, and continuing cold weather in most states, there is low urgency for real estate transactions. This results in longer DOM for homes listed during this time.
Long-term data from the above-mentioned Redfin data set supports this. In 2023, February had the highest DOM at 53 days, while 2024 and 2025 showed January to be the highest, at 50 and 57, respectively.
Home sale data by month
Given the data, the spring and summer seasons are the best times to sell a house, as there are more homebuyers following the holiday season. That causes home prices to increase, more homes to sell above the listing price, and bidding wars to begin. On the other hand, the colder months, fall and winter, are the worst times to sell a house. That’s because home sale prices are lower, median DOM is higher, and price reductions are more significant.
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Number of newly listed homes | Number of homes sold | Median sale price of homes | Median DOM | |
| Best months to sell a house | June 2024 | ||||
| July 2024 | |||||
| August 2024 | |||||
| September 2024 | |||||
| October 2024 | |||||
| Worst months to sell a house | November 2024 | ||||
| December 2024 | |||||
| January 2025 | |||||
| February 2025 | |||||
| March 2025 | |||||
| Best months to sell a house | April 2025 | ||||
| May 2025 | |||||
| Sources: FRED and Redfin | |||||
Pros & cons of selling a house in each season
Different months of the year, from winter to summer, often present less-than-optimal selling conditions. When considering selling a property, keep in mind the following general tips and the pros and cons of selling a home during the four seasons.
(December-March) | ||
(March-June) | ||
(June-September) | ||
(September-December) |
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
What is the best month to sell a house?
As of writing, the best month to sell a house is June, when buyer demand is at its peak and home prices are the highest. Sellers should use this timing to attract multiple offers and close better deals. However, this can still vary depending on your city or state, as weather and market conditions can impact the best time to sell.
Which month sells the most houses?
According to Redfin’s data, June is typically the month that has the highest number of houses sold. This number is driven by buyer interest, weather, and the need to close deals before summer vacations begin or after a school year ends.
Will 2026 be a good year to sell a house?
Yes, 2026 will be a good year to sell, given the current trend, provided that you have a good strategy and time your listings wisely. As agents, staying informed about interest rates, inflation, and generational real estate statistics that impact the market and home prices is essential. While you can’t predict whether mortgage rates will go down or not, people will always need a place to live — you just need to find the right house for the right buyer.
Bringing it all together
If you’re looking to sell a property, remember that timing is everything. The best and worst months to sell a house depend on seasonal trends that could affect the home sale price.
According to real estate statistics, it’s best to sell a house during spring to late summer, or from April to October. Since demand outweighs supply, housing prices are higher, and homes sell faster. Meanwhile, the worst months to sell a house are November through March or during fall to winter, when potential buyers are preoccupied with holiday plans. Sellers should expect lower sales prices and higher DOM during these months.
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