Anastasia Miles
Child riding on an adult’s back among fallen leaves in a sunlit park.

The #1 Reason To List Your House In The Winter

Many sellers believe spring is the best time to put their homes on the market because buyer demand traditionally increases at that time of year. What they don’t realize is if every homeowner believes the same thing, then that’s when they’ll have the most competition.

So, what’s the #1 reason to list your house in the winter? Less competition.

Housing supply traditionally shrinks at this time of year, so the choices buyers have will be limited. The chart below was created using the months supply of listings from the National Association of Realtors.

Line chart of months of housing supply, falling to a circled December “Sweet Spot” before rising in January 2019.

As you can see, the ‘sweet spot’ to list your house for the most exposure naturally occurs in the late fall and winter months (November – January).

Temperatures aren’t the only thing that heats up in the spring – so do listings!

Housing inventory bar chart, with monthly figures from November through May and a rise to 1.69 million in May.

In 2018, listings increased from December to May. Don’t wait for these listings and the competition that comes with them to come to the market before you decide to list your house.

Added Bonus: Serious Buyers Are Out in the Winter

At this time of year, purchasers who are serious about buying a home will be in the marketplace. You and your family will not be bothered and inconvenienced by mere ‘lookers.’ The lookers are at the mall or online doing their holiday shopping.

Bottom Line

If you’ve been debating whether or not to sell your house and are curious about market conditions in your area, let’s talk, I can help you decide the best time to list your house.

Source: Keeping Current Matters

Work with Anastasia

Whether you're buying or selling, I offer the market knowledge, resources, and support needed to help you make informed decisions. My goal is to simplify the process, anticipate challenges, and create a seamless experience tailored to your unique needs.