According to statistics, 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). Understanding seasonal trends, such as weather, days on the market, home prices, and market competitiveness, is essential to determining the best month to sell a house. Whether you’re a homeowner, investor, or real estate agent representing a seller, 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 United States. 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.
Best Time to Sell a House: April to October
The best time to sell a house falls between April and October, as buyer demand outpaces the number of homes available for sale and homeowners can sell their properties for higher prices. According to real estate charts, in June 2024, the median home sale price was $426,900,1 the highest record within the past 12 months. While property owners compete with other sellers during the spring homebuying season, houses still sell faster because of the housing shortage.
Highest Home Prices in June
If you want to earn a higher profit from the sale of your property, the best month to sell a house is June. Based on FRED’s housing market stats,1 in June 2024, homebuyer demand was high, with properties sold at a median sales price of $426,900. The high demand and low inventory are some factors that drive housing prices up, allowing sellers to charge more for their properties.
More Homes Sold Above List Price in June
In June 2024, 35.1% of homes sold above the list price,2 showing the intense competition in the market. Home prices skyrocketed as early as April, driven by high demand from homebuyers, before declining in September. During the spring homebuying season, the market sees bidding wars, with sellers receiving multiple offers from qualified buyers.
According to HomeLight’s recent housing market research, the best time to sell a house varies by location.3 The table below shows the best month to list your home in 21 major US cities and the premium a seller realizes by listing during the peak month. Keep in mind that closing a sale can still take a few months after listing.
Sale Price |
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|---|---|---|
| (Source: HomeLight) | ||
Seasonality is one factor that may have influenced home sales in specific cities. For example, properties in Chicago, Illinois, were sold 6.17% above the asking price in the summer. These figures show strong buyer demand at this time of year when the winter has finally gone and the warm weather has begun. 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 Strongest & Weakest Housing Markets to learn more.
Lowest Median Days on Market (DOM) in May & June
A low median DOM is a factor that indicates a seller’s market. In May and June 2024, the median DOM was 32 days,3 the lowest DOM for the year so far. Also, compared with the average time to sell a house in January (49 days) and February 2024 (48 days), it is significantly lower. The low DOM means homes sell faster during this time than in winter when the holiday season is in full swing. Furthermore, a low DOM suggests buyers have less time to bargain with sellers and fewer opportunities to view numerous homes.
Reasons why April to October was the best time of year to sell a house in 2024:
- June: The highest median sales prices are listed at $426,900.
- June: More homes (35.1%) sold above list price.
- May and June: Lowest median DOM at 32 days.
Worst Time to Sell a House: November to March
The worst month to sell a house is between November and March. With weather and holiday interruptions playing a role, there is low demand amid a considerable home supply. Furthermore, because fewer people are trying to buy a home, homes tend to stay on the market longer and sell at lower prices.
Lower Homebuyer Demand Between January & February
Year over year, the number of homes sold drops in January and February. During January and February 2024, the number of homes sold was 289,453 and 341,876,3 respectively. The sharp drop reflects poor homebuying demand caused by the holiday season and adverse weather in most states.
Lower Home Prices in December & January
When is the worst time to sell a house, you ask? Historically, home sellers receive lower yields during the winter months. With the holiday season approaching (and cold weather in most states), some homebuyers prefer to avoid the market and spend quality time with their loved ones.
Because demand for properties decreases at this time of the year, houses sell at lower prices, making December and January the worst months to sell a home. For instance, the median home sale prices in December and January 2024 were $381,400 and $378,600,1 respectively.
Higher Median Days on Market (DOM) in January & February
If you want to sell your house quickly, cold January (and into February) is the worst month 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 days on the market for homes listed during this time. Redfin data shows that the highest DOM was observed in January 2024 (49 days) and February 2024 (48 days). Long DOM could be detrimental to sellers.
Notably, the number of newly listed properties2 fell significantly between September 2023 (525,469) and December 2023 (284,101) and increased again slowly until May 2024 (664,244). Buyers are usually most interested in new listings that prove to be a suitable home for them.
On the other hand, a home that has been on the market for a long time gives buyers the impression that there is something wrong with it or that the seller is not open to negotiating. As a result, some purchasers may avoid a house with high DOM. This often results in having to lower the asking price more than expected to attract qualified prospects.
Reasons why November to March are the worst times to sell a home:
- January and February: The number of homes sold was only 289,453 and 341,876, respectively, significantly lower than 465,582 in June 2024.
- December and January: Average home prices were $381,400 and $378,600, respectively.
- January: Houses stayed on the market for an average of 49 days.
Home Sale Data by Month
The median home sales price at closing surged from $387,800 in November 2023 to $426,900 in June 2024. In addition, the median DOM fell from 49 days in January 2024 to 32 days in June 2024, indicating that houses are sold at a faster rate and higher price.
As a result, the spring and summer seasons are the best times to sell a house since many buyers begin looking for new houses following the holiday season, causing 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 because home sale prices are lower, median days on the market are higher, and price reductions are more significant.
Look at the table below to see the housing market trends from July 2023 to June 2024:
| Best months to sell a house | July 2023 | ||||
| August 2023 | |||||
| September 2023 | |||||
| October 2023 | |||||
| Worst months to sell a house | November 2023 | ||||
| December 2023 | |||||
| January 2024 | |||||
| February 2024 | |||||
| March 2024 | |||||
| Best months to sell a house | April 2024 | ||||
| May 2024 | |||||
| June 2024 | |||||
| Sources: FRED and Redfin | |||||
Pro Tip: If you need to sell a house between November and March, real estate agents must explore new marketing options and improve their lead generation and sales funnel systems to boost their efforts. You want to get as many clients and leads into your pipeline as possible so that you’ll be ready to start selling properties when spring arrives. Consider attending community events and business gatherings.
Pros & Cons of Selling a House in Each Season
Different months of the year, from winter to summer, often present less than optimum 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. Weather and market conditions can impact the best time to sell.
Which month sells the most houses?
Based on the 2024 statistics we’ve included above, May saw the highest number of houses sold, with 502,237 transactions. This number is driven by buyer interest, weather, and the need to close deals before summer vacations begin or after a school year ends.
Is 2024 a good year to sell a house?
Of course, 2024 is a good year to sell, especially when you list during peak season (April to October). As agents, staying informed about interest rates, inflation, and generational real estate statistics that impact the market and home prices is essential.
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 depends on seasonal trends that could affect the home sale price. According to real estate statistics, it’s best to sell a house during spring, 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 winter, when potential buyers are preoccupied with holiday plans. Sellers should expect lower sales prices and more days on the market during these months.
Sources
1FRED
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