{"id":25688,"date":"2021-07-30T09:09:41","date_gmt":"2021-07-30T16:09:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=25688"},"modified":"2026-04-07T08:42:45","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T15:42:45","slug":"buyer-best-day-to-list-a-house","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-best-day-to-list-a-house\/","title":{"rendered":"Is There a Best Day to List a House? How Homebuyers Can Leverage Trends"},"content":{"rendered":"

This year has been a wild ride for real estate. The inventory of homes for sale was at a record low of 1.03 million homes<\/a> in February 2021 \u2014 down a record 30% from the previous year. Properties sold that month were on the market for a record low of 20 days and nearly 75% of those homes were on the market for less than a month. Homes priced between $250,000 and $500,000 were on the market just 14 days.<\/p>\n

Some experts say that this low inventory has led to higher prices, which combined with rising interest rates, can make purchasing a home difficult for some buyers because they may not be affordable.<\/p>\n

But that doesn\u2019t necessarily mean you can\u2019t find a home you love in your price range. Staying on top of listings is one tactic that can benefit you in your search. But is there a best day to list a house, and how can you effectively target homes as they become available? We consulted a top real estate agent and dove into the data to help you leverage timing in this competitive landscape and buy the house you want \u2014 no matter the day, month, or season.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Source: (Behnam Norouzi \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Best day to list a house<\/h2>\n

According to top agent Chris Creegan<\/a>, owner of the Creegan Group in Winter Park, Florida, outside of the seller\u2019s preference on when they want to show their house, he says the best day to list a house is the middle to the end of the week. This allows the agents a few days to get marketing materials (like photos, one-pagers, rack cards, and open house take-aways) together to create a frenzy for weekend showings.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot goes into getting a listing live and preparing it properly,\u201d Creegan says. \u201cA lot of the advertising outside of the MLS starts before the listing is even live.\u201d<\/p>\n

Our Q2 2020 Top Agent Insight Survey shows almost 40% of agents<\/a> polled pinpointed Thursday as the best day for homes to be listed, followed closely by Wednesday.<\/p>\n

A report in USA Today determined that homes listed on Thursdays sold for more money and in less time<\/a> than those listed on other days of the week. In fact, they found that homes listed on Thursday sold for an average of $3,015 more than homes listed on Mondays and went under contract 5 days faster than homes listed on Sunday.<\/p>\n

What does this mean for you as the buyer? The homes listed on Thursday are going to have a lot of views online that will translate to weekend showings \u2014 meaning more competition. So be prepared. If your schedule allows, look at homes listed earlier in the week and try to schedule showings mid-week. With this strategy, you\u2019ll already have some viewings under your belt when you schedule weekend viewings for the homes listed later in the week.<\/p>\n

Best month to list a house<\/h2>\n

We now know that Thursday is considered the best day to list a house, but how about the best month?<\/p>\n

In the summer months, nicer weather and longer days traditionally bring with them more showings, which can lead to more \u2014 and higher \u2014 offers. In fact, listing a home in June can net a 9.2% seller premium<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Creegan agrees, saying, \u201cJune is a great month.\u201d<\/p>\n

For buyers looking for a home during these months, it\u2019s best to be prepared for some competition and potentially higher prices.<\/p>\n

\"Leaves<\/a>
Source: (Greg Shield \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2019Tis the season to list<\/h2>\n

Seasons can influence the price you pay when buying a home \u2014 potentially as much as 10%<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Creegan tells us that in the past there was a fairly consistent cycle for home selling and buying. There are traditionally more listings and purchases in the spring, closings in summer and early fall, and not too much movement in the winter months.<\/p>\n

That cycle became a little more unpredictable in 2020, when prospective buyers started stepping back<\/a> to rethink their plans amid high unemployment, tighter lending practices, and general economic uncertainty.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe holidays were usually slow, but we\u2019ve had people texting on Thanksgiving and buying houses on Christmas Day,\u201d Creegan says.<\/p>\n

Jason Perry of JMP Inspection Services<\/a> in Clinton, Tennessee, agrees.<\/p>\n

He says in Tennessee this year, business was busier in February and slower in March and April. The schedule started picking up in the warmer months which, he said, is indicative of more people moving. While he expects inspection requests to slow down around the holidays and pick back up in the beginning of the year, he says, \u201cthis year, the slowdown isn\u2019t much of a slowdown.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now the bigger companies are booked out with full schedules and the little guys are staying busy, too,\u201d he says. \u201cDemand is low because there are fewer houses for sale, but the houses that are selling are enough to keep everyone busy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a closer look at the seasons. \u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Fall<\/h3>\n

Time Magazine says the best time of year to buy a home is in the early fall<\/a> \u2014 specifically September \u2014 when the number of properties on the market is still relatively high compared to the winter months and sellers are eager to close. Just keep in mind that a September purchase will likely mean a November closing.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n

Winter<\/h3>\n

\u00a0<\/i>\u201cPeople typically avoid moving in the winter because of the holidays,\u201d Creegan says. \u201cThey want to enjoy one last year before moving.\u201d<\/p>\n

The holiday season \u2014 from Thanksgiving to the new year \u2014 has traditionally been the best time for homebuyers to get a deal<\/a> on a house because there\u2019s less competition and sellers are more motivated during the holidays. This could translate to considerable price decreases, a definite benefit for buyers. December has been identified as the month when buyers typically get the best price on real estate.<\/p>\n

This is in line with NAR reports that show November, December, January, and February usually having the least sales activity<\/a> \u2014 with January being the slowest.<\/p>\n

Because supply follows demand, buyers likely won\u2019t find as many homes for sale during the winter months, but if a buyer can tolerate the low inventory, this could be a perfect time to score a good deal. Though sellers don\u2019t have a lot of competition, they likely aren\u2019t getting a lot of showings or offers either, meaning they may be more amenable to negotiating.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are seeing this now,\u201d Creegan says.<\/p>\n

\u201cInventory is so low that people are moving in the winter and making offers, even on holidays, to take advantage of serious sellers and overall slowdown of buyer activity.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Spring<\/h3>\n

Spring is a hot period for the housing market<\/a>. Blue skies, green grass, and blooming flowers make for great curb appeal<\/a>, which is the first impression a buyer gets when they see a photo or arrive on property. In fact, 94% of agents surveyed for our Top Agent Insights for Spring 2021 said that curb appeal translates to more money for the seller<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Historically, spring<\/a> has been the start of the residential sales season and this is when inventory is likely to be higher, but competition will be, too. Since more people are looking, sellers receive more offers. These offers are more competitive and often roll in quickly (sometimes before a home is even officially on the market), so homes sell for a higher price.<\/p>\n

Summer<\/h3>\n

Traditionally, the busiest four months in real estate are May, June, July, and August. In fact, these four months alone make up 40% of annual home sales volume<\/a>, with an average of 2.1 million purchase transactions.<\/p>\n

Summer is a popular time to list a home because the weather is good, the days are longer, and a summer closing affords the buyer (and the seller) the opportunity to get into their new home before school starts.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re a summer-searcher, just know that you won\u2019t be alone. While this may be the best season to list a house, it is the worst season to buy a house because high demand equates to higher prices.<\/p>\n

As summer ends, buyers may have more footing to ask for seller concessions<\/a>, like paying closing costs, and more power to negotiate as the peak selling season comes to an end.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
Source: (Clay Banks \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The takeaway<\/h2>\n

No matter the best day to list a house, ultimately, the best time to buy a house depends on your finances, goals, and personal needs.<\/p>\n

But keep in mind, Creegan says, what\u2019s best for the seller isn\u2019t necessarily best for the buyer. As a buyer, you\u2019ll want to start your search when supply and demand balance in your favor, meaning you have choices (supply), but not a lot of competition (demand). Understanding sales trends in a particular area<\/a> can help you determine when that best time is.<\/p>\n

Buyers market vs. sellers market<\/h3>\n

\u00a0<\/i>The type of market can affect how you prepare for your home purchase, how quickly a home might sell, how much competition there will be for it, and how much the home will cost.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i>A buyers market<\/a> exists when buyers have more negotiating power than prospective sellers. In this type of market, there are more than enough homes for sale to meet the needs of interested buyers.<\/p>\n

Though much of the nation hasn\u2019t been in this situation since the early 1990s<\/a>, you may find yourself shopping in a seasonal buyers market. If you do<\/a>, you may be able to offer 5% to 10% less than the asking price<\/a>, ask for seller concessions<\/a>, and request repairs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

On the flip side, a sellers market<\/a> exists when sellers have more negotiating power than prospective buyers. In this type of market, there aren\u2019t enough homes for sale to meet the needs of interested buyers. Much of the U.S. is a sellers market as of August 2021.<\/p>\n

It can be stressful<\/a> to shop for a home in a sellers market. Fortunately, there are strategies<\/a> you can use that may help make it easier. We\u2019ve summarized a few below.<\/p>\n

Get <\/b>pre-approved for a mortgage<\/b><\/a>. <\/b>This shows a seller you are financially able to meet the offer you\u2019ve made.<\/p>\n

Know what you want and act quickly. <\/b>Only look at homes in your price range that meet your needs. Stay on top of listings and, if you find a home you love, be prepared to make an offer on it after you look at it.<\/p>\n

Keep your offer simple and <\/b>competitive<\/b><\/a>. <\/b>Stick with basic contingencies (like financing and appraisal) and a standard closing time frame of 30 to 45 days.<\/p>\n

Be prepared for <\/b>bidding wars<\/b><\/a>.<\/b> You should assume you won\u2019t be the only one making an offer. It\u2019s best to set a firm ceiling on your spending limit based on what the home is worth and, more importantly, what you can afford. Make an offer that gives you some wiggle room to counter, but know when to walk away.<\/p>\n

Get a head start with an agent<\/h2>\n

There\u2019s a lot of information to digest here, but when you\u2019re ready to start your search, find a buyer’s agent<\/a>. Creegan says regardless of when the best day to list a house may be and when you decide to start looking, partnering with an agent<\/a> who has a history in the market and understands the trends will be the best bet in making sure you have a positive experience and a successful home purchase.<\/p>\n

Header Image Source: (karamysh \/ Shutterstock)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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