701,000 homes have already been sold in the United States this year.
With real estate being such a competitive market, many sellers wonder when the best time of year to sell their home is. To sell quickly and get the most out of the home, that answer depends on a variety of factors.
So, when is the best time of year to sell a house? Keep reading to learn more.
The Best Time of Year to Sell a House
For many areas, the best time to sell is in the spring, but that’s not the case for everyone.
Generally, the best time of year to sell will depend on a few different things. Each season has its own factors to consider depending on the weather for that city or state. Additionally, each neighborhood and family will have a time that’s easiest to sell.
Where You’re Selling Your Home
Since the weather is typically warm enough to feel comfortable but not too hot to sweat, many buyers prefer to browse in the spring. In Wake County, North Carolina, the sale of homes spike during the month of June. November follows at a close second. Keep mind that a house that sells, and closes, in June means that it hit the market sometime in April or May. The spring has always been prime selling season.
In extremely hot states like Florida, Arizona, and some parts of California, spring and summer may be too hot for buyers to want to go out and look. Also, hot weather often brings extreme weather like tornadoes or hurricanes.
As a general rule-of-thumb, you’ll want to try to sell a house when the weather is the most comfortable to be outside in.
Pros and Cons of Selling in Each Season
While spring and summer tend to be the most common seasons to sell in, there are pros and cons for each season.
Sometimes we have no choice but to sell in a certain season, so it’s important to know the pros and cons for each season. They are:
Summer
While selling in the summer is usually a good idea, there are pros and cons to this just like in every other season.
Pros:
- Longer daylight hours provide more time after hours to view homes
- Flexible vacation time for many buyers
- Urgency to buy before kids start school
- Competitive offers and quicker closing rates
Cons:
- More competition as more people are selling
- Higher showing costs from air conditioning
- Antsy children if pools must be show-ready all summer
Summer is a great time to sell if you have a great house that’s move-in ready and you aren’t worried about a little bit of competition.
Spring
If summers are too hot, spring may be the best alternative.
While spring is generally a great time to sell, there are some factors to consider when listing at this time.
Pros:
- Stronger curb appeal as flowers are in full bloom
- Beat summer competition
- Get into a house as kids are getting out of school
- Easier to move in mild weather
Cons:
- Moving can be difficult if spring is rainy
- If moving to another city kids may need to be pulled out of school depending on when you sell
- Spring events (graduation parties) may make selling more stressful
If you want to beat the competition that comes with the flexibility more people have in the summer, spring would be a great time for you to sell.
Winter
When people think about selling their homes in the winter, they often shut the idea down right away.
Winter is cold and wet in North Carolina, and snow is a possibility. While winter may not be the most ideal season to sell your home, there are still plenty of benefits.
Pros:
- Less selection so buyers can’t be as picky
- Relocating buyers may need to get into a home quickly to start their job in the new year
- Snow may cover some of the landscaping blemishes
- Holiday decor may make the home seem cozier
Cons:
- Some buyers may play off of “seller desperation”
- More difficult to make repairs or renovations before selling
- Days are shorter
- Keeping the home show-ready around the holidays can be more difficult
Don’t completely write off selling your home in the winter. While it may be more challenging, in a pinch it’s completely doable.
Fall
Fall isn’t considered the best time to sell in many areas, but it is in other areas.
The fairly mild weather and beautiful landscaping can actually provide an advantage to sellers. If you’re in a pinch and need to sell your home in the fall, there are plenty of pros and cons to keep in mind.
Pros:
- Less competition
- If buyers couldn’t buy a house in the spring or summer they may be motivated to close before it gets too cold
- Lower costs for home renovations
- Prime season for robberies has ended
- Listings look more vivid as the leaves begin changing color
Cons:
- Buyers can be pickier and demanding if they know that you have less interest
- School starting may impact the interest you get
- If you’re selling once the leaves have fallen from the trees your curb appeal decreases
- Yards may be harder to maintain for showings
While fall isn’t the ideal season to sell for many of us, there are plenty of benefits for selling at this time of year.
Other Factors to Consider
So, we’ve established that the best time to sell is typically June, July, or late spring in Wake County, North Carolina.
While these seasons are the best overall, the neighborhood you’re selling in can influence the best time to sell a house. This is due to interest rates, job growth, and other financial factors.
Also, the condition of your home will influence the best time to list a house. If your home is a bit of a fixer-upper, you may want to sell when there’s less competition and when flaws are less noticeable.
Are You Ready to Sell Your Home for Cash?
If you aren’t sure how your home will do or if it’s the right season, let us take your home off of your hands.
We’ll take your home for cash at any time of the year, we don’t care if it’s the best time of year to sell a house. Reach out to us today to get started!