What are the hottest months for real estate?
Generally speaking, late spring and summer are the peak real estate season, when there's the most inventory to choose from — but also the most competition, and the highest prices. If affordability is a concern, you're likely to score a better deal during the winter months.
Historically, May was the best month to sell a house, but that changed to March in recent years. In 2019, homes listed during the weeks of March 11 and 18 sold fastest.
Again, June and July are the best months to close your house sale quickly. During these months, homes spend an average 24-27 days on the market, which is 10-15 days less than the rest of the months. Fewer days on the market is considered an indicator of a seller's market.
Typically, winter time is the slowest of the year to sell a property, specifically November, December, and January. However, there are some exceptions because there are several conditions that affect the housing market.
Seasonal differences in annual sales volume
As depicted, the most homes are regularly sold each year in June. Another small increase takes place in December, as homebuyers seek to wrap up their financial activities before the end of the year.
Fall and winter are the worst seasons to sell
Just like in the warmer months, the weather plays a factor in the winter months, too. As the days get dark earlier and temperatures drop, people tend to stay closer to home. This means less foot traffic for sellers.
Winter is usually the cheapest time of year to purchase a home. Sellers are often motivated, which automatically translates into an advantage to you. Most people suspend their listings from around Thanksgiving to the New Year because they assume buyers are scarce.
On the other hand, the worst time of year to buy a house is during the spring season up to early summer, when housing inventory is high, driving the demand and home prices up. Aside from seasonality, other economic factors, such as mortgage rates, may also affect your ability to buy a home.
Ask us a question! The median time a house is on the market in 2024, according to statistics from Fred Economic Data, is 61 days. This is the average time based on data from all 50 states. Also, the average sale price is $431,000 (Source: Motley Fool, Q3 2023 home prices).
Thursday is generally thought to be the best day of the week to list a house for sale. Studies show that homes listed on Thursdays are more likely to sell faster, and for a higher price. Talk to your agent about whether listing your property on a Thursday should be part of your home-sale strategy.
What age is the best to buy a house?
- Most first-time homebuyers make a purchase when they are 35. Buying a house at a young age can mean building equity young and getting a home paid off sooner.
- Purchasing a house in your 20s or earlier can also mean you feel trapped, unable to move at a moment's notice.
Saturday and Sunday tend to be the busiest days for open houses, showings, and closing deals. Consider making weekends your prime money making time, especially when you're new to the business. Take Thursday or Friday off to recharge, and do a half day on one weekend day if needed.
Families prefer to move into their new home before the start of the school year, and house-hunting is much easier in springtime weather. Real estate agents often try to have their listings hit the market between April and June on a Friday or Saturday.
Is It Too Soon To Sell Your House? Real estate agents suggest you stay in a house for 5 years to recoup costs and make a profit from selling. Before you put your house on the market, consider how your closing fees, realtor fees, interest payments and moving fees compare to the amount you have in equity.
Calculate how soon you can sell a house after buying it. While you can sell anytime, it's usually smart to wait at least two years before selling. This gives you time to (hopefully) gain some equity to offset your closing expenses.
It is possible to sell a house after owning it for just two years, but it's generally not wise financially. Selling a house comes with significant closing costs, as well as real estate commissions and moving expenses.
Home-price growth increased in January 2024 by 6 percent, according to S&P CoreLogic's latest Case-Shiller Index. That's the fastest annual growth since 2022. Bankrate's latest national survey of large lenders shows the average rate on a 30-year mortgage was 7.05 percent as of April 3, 2024.
- Winston-Salem, North Carolina. ...
- Pittsburgh. ...
- Salt Lake City. ...
- Sarasota, Florida. ...
- Phoenix. Median listing price: $529,450. ...
- Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Median listing price: $366,075. ...
- Austin, Texas. Median listing price: $583,751. ...
- Boise, Idaho. Median listing price: $609,875.
The greatest postwar boom in housing prices – by far. Take a look. Mortgage rates bottomed in the mid-1950s, and house prices bottomed about the same time. Then the greatest boom in home prices in our lifetimes started.
There's no minimum age to buy a house. If you're ready and have a down payment, buying a house in your early 20s is a smart move.
What takes the longest when buying a house?
The conveyancer will run requests for information, look at survey findings and coordinate dates for the exchange of contracts. This can be the longest part of the process of buying a home. There will be lots of back and forth between your conveyancer and the seller's, as well as with the estate agent.
Soaring prices combined with stagnant incomes
1972 had lower house prices, no question about it. Prices were lower in the 1970s (1) in absolute terms compared to today, of course, and also lower (2) when compared to median incomes back then.
When you look at listings for homes online, they usually have a part of the listing that shows how long the home has been on the market. After 90 days, most real estate agents deem that property as "stale." This stale property may get less money when it finally does sell.
Either way, buying a home is a major decision, and it's one you'll want to be sure about. How many times should you visit a house? Experts say you should visit a home 3-6 times before making an offer. It may not always be possible to visit numerous times, especially in hot markets, but if you can, you should.
If your property has been on the market for more than six months, it may be time to rethink your strategy. Your realtor is doing all they can but often in these cases, the burden falls on you to assist your realtor and give them the help they need to make the property more appealing to buyers.
References
- https://fitsmallbusiness.com/why-real-estate-agents-fail/
- https://www.nytimes.com/2023/08/26/business/mortgage-rates-housing-market.html
- https://www.luxurypresence.com/blogs/how-much-does-a-real-estate-broker-make-in-salary/
- https://sebfrey.com/why-2024-is-the-best-year-to-sell-a-home-in-bay-area/
- https://www.landmarkhw.com/resources/buying-selling-house/why-does-a-home-stay-on-the-market-for-a-long-time/7/111
- https://www.marketplacehomes.com/blog/selling-homes/how-long-does-a-house-stay-on-the-market-in-2024/
- https://www.zillow.com/learn/best-time-to-sell/
- https://www.housingwire.com/articles/how-to-make-at-least-100000-in-100-days-as-a-real-estate-agent/
- https://www.kapre.com/resources/real-estate/1-million-first-year-selling-real-estate
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/040215/real-estate-broker-career-you.asp
- https://jetstreamtech.io/how-to-make-money-quick-as-a-new-real-estate-agent/
- https://realestate.usnews.com/real-estate/articles/are-you-too-young-to-buy-a-house
- https://www.vaned.com/blog/work-life-balance/
- https://waterfrontlifestylegroup.com/blog/the-best-and-worst-day-to-list-a-home
- https://athomewithkrista.com/tips-for-when-your-house-has-been-on-the-market-6-months/
- https://www.redfin.com/guides/best-day-to-list-your-home
- https://www.ramseysolutions.com/real-estate/how-fed-rates-affect-housing
- https://www.theinvestorsedge.com/blog/what-are-the-slowest-months-for-real-estate
- https://www.houzeo.com/blog/florida-real-estate-market/
- https://www.redfin.com/guides/how-much-is-real-estate-agent-commission-buyer-seller
- https://www.scottsdalecc.edu/news/2022/7-steps-become-successful-real-estate-agent
- https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/best-time-of-year-to-buy-a-house
- https://www.vaned.com/blog/real-estate-math/
- https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/housing-market-2024/
- https://www.auction.com/blog/my-advice-to-millennials-4-steps-to-becoming-a-real-estate-millionaire/
- https://www.forbes.com/advisor/mortgages/real-estate/housing-market-predictions/
- https://investfourmore.com/is-real-estate-hard/
- https://bright52.medium.com/30-years-in-30-days-year-10-a-tale-of-two-eras-home-buying-in-1972-and-2023-dea7e30a70ec
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/do-you-know-secrets-worlds-top-10-wealthiest-real-estate-anis-abasy
- https://theclose.com/why-realtors-fail/
- https://www.tomferry.com/blog/87-of-all-agents-fail-in-real-estate/
- https://journal.firsttuesday.us/home-sales-volume-and-price-peaks/692/
- https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-success-rate-for-new-real-estate-agents-in-Californias-Bay-Area
- https://realtyna.com/blog/how-long-take-start-making-money-as-real-estate-agent/
- https://www.fullfeel.io/why-is-being-a-realtor-stressful/
- https://www.nexford.edu/insights/highest-paying-real-estate-jobs
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/housing-market-crash-experts-191734802.html
- https://www.zillow.com/learn/how-soon-can-i-sell-my-house-after-purchase/
- https://www.1percentlists.com/discount-real-estate-brokers/houses-realtors-sell-a-year/
- https://www.quora.com/How-much-money-do-the-top-earning-real-estate-agents-in-the-world-make
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/First-Year-Real-Estate-Agent-Salary--in-California
- https://www.aceableagent.com/career-center/california/how-long-does-it-take-to-get-your-real-estate-license-california/
- https://www.trulia.com/blog/2-most-important-rooms-in-a-house/
- https://www.darinpersinger.com/blog/make-100000-real-estate-agent
- https://www.homego.com/blog/worst-month-to-sell-house/
- https://listwithclever.com/real-estate-blog/what-percentage-do-real-estate-agents-make/
- https://www.houzeo.com/blog/best-time-to-sell-a-house-in-california/
- https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2024/03/12/is-it-too-late-to-start-investing-in-real-estate/
- https://www.theceshop.com/agent-essentials/blog/do-you-have-the-perfect-personality-for-a-career-in-real-estate
- https://www.fortunebuilders.com/start-a-real-estate-career/
- https://www.thebalancemoney.com/how-much-do-real-estate-agents-make-1798888
- https://www.rubyhome.com/blog/number-of-realtors/
- https://www.realtrends.com/ranking/best-real-estate-agents-united-states/individuals-by-volume/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-real-estate-creates-90-millionaires-ben-lovro
- https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/best-day-to-list-house/
- https://www.kapre.com/resources/real-estate/top-ten-traits-real-estate-agent
- https://www.saxllp.com/advantages-and-disadvantages-of-investing-in-real-estate/
- https://stairsfinancial.com/blog/how-much-house-can-i-afford-on-40k-a-year
- https://www.continuingedexpress.com/career-licensing-pro-con
- https://www.quickenloans.com/learn/how-long-should-you-live-in-a-house-before-selling
- https://www.zoopla.co.uk/discover/buying/the-timeline-of-buying-a-home-how-long-is-too-long/
- https://www.zillow.com/learn/best-time-to-buy-a-house/
- https://www.ramseysolutions.com/real-estate/3-month-plan-to-sell-home-in-spring
- https://www.fortunebuilders.com/investing-in-real-estate-for-beginners/
- https://medium.com/@barry_317/want-to-get-rich-in-real-estate-top-5-tips-of-a-real-estate-insider-8a59429a9dde
- https://www.rockethomes.com/blog/home-selling/best-time-to-sell-a-house
- https://realestatelicensewizard.com/why-the-first-year-of-real-estate-is-the-hardest/
- https://homebuyer.com/learn/buying-a-house-in-your-early-20s
- https://www.colibrirealestate.com/career-hub/blog/10-reasons-why-real-estate-is-a-good-career/
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/100314/when-did-real-estate-bubble-burst.asp
- https://www.quora.com/Is-being-a-real-estate-agent-hard-I-want-to-be-one-but-I-am-afraid-I-will-fail
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-real-estate-agent
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/g/Highest-Paying-Real-Estate-Agent-Jobs
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-become-millionaire-10-years-less-through-real-estate
- https://www.jasonhartman.com/the-best-time-in-history-to-buy-a-house/
- https://www.bankrate.com/mortgages/mortgage-interest-rates-forecast/
- https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/real-estate-agent-ben-caballero-named-guinness-world-record-holder-300649738.html
- https://www.quora.com/What-are-the-odds-of-being-a-successful-real-estate-agent
- https://www.homebuyersofpittsburgh.com/selling-home-to-pay-debt
- https://www.houzeo.com/blog/best-time-to-sell-a-house-in-florida/
- https://fitsmallbusiness.com/best-and-worst-time-to-buy-a-house/
- https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/best-time-to-sell-house/
- https://www.houzeo.com/blog/best-time-to-buy-a-house-in-california/
- https://www.thezebra.com/resources/home/average-age-of-first-time-homebuyers/
- https://www.adhischools.com/blog/The-Five-Hardest-Things-About-Being-A-Realtor
- https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/selling-your-house-after-2-years/
- https://www.plecto.com/blog/motivation/real-estate-challenges/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-cities-where-home-prices-120010681.html
- https://brokersplaybook.com/news/what-is-the-average-age-of-a-realtor/
- https://www.homelight.com/blog/advertising-words-for-home-selling/
- https://berniegallerani.com/100k-new-real-estate-agent/
- http://www.themusiccityrealtor.com/10-reasons-i-love-being-a-realtor.html
- https://abioproperties.com/selling-tips/how-long-does-it-take-to-sell-a-house-east-bay/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/crafting-perfect-weekly-calendar-real-estate-agent-kyle-whissel-wqmbf
- https://blog.ruoff.com/how-many-times-should-you-see-a-house-before-you-buy
- https://www.photoup.net/learn/best-time-to-take-exterior-real-estate-photography
- https://realestatelicensewizard.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-become-successful-in-real-estate/
- https://www.thisoldhouse.com/home-finances/21015657/are-you-ever-too-old-to-get-a-mortgage
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/080714/how-do-real-estate-agents-get-paid.asp
- https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/benefits-of-real-estate-investing
- https://www.conejovalleyguy.com/the-four-seasons-of-real-estate/