A recent report from Zillow shows that timing does make a difference when selling a home.
Home sale data from 2024 shows that sellers who listed their homes in the last two weeks of May netted an additional 1.6% on the sale, or about $5,600 on the typical U.S. home. The data showed that sellers usually get better-than-average returns if they list their homes between March 15 and July 31, but many factors affect the price.
Zillow reports that the housing market has changed in recent years and the optimal time for sellers has also shifted, moving with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, mortgage rates and other factors. Last year, normal trends began to come back, with the best times to list a home falling again in the traditional period of late April to early May.
The best time to list can vary widely by metropolitan areas. Last year, the second half of March was the best time for Austin, San Diego, San Jose and Seattle. For Phoenix sellers, the year started slowly. But by the end of the year, Phoenix sales were up 22%. Those few sellers who listed in November saw the largest bump in home prices.
The sales price premium associated with listing at the local peak also varied widely. In cities where peak season was between March and June, San Jose sellers finding the market peak enjoyed an average price bonus of 5.3%, or $93,200. Los Angeles homeowners selling at the peak saw a 3.9% jump, or $39,300, and Cleveland sellers saw a bump of 3.7%, or $8,600.
