Thinking about selling your house? While many home sellers wait until spring to put their property on the market, experts say there may be advantages to listing sooner rather than later — especially this year.
Potential sellers may be skeptical: Rates are still high, and the market has been slow, with many “for sale” signs sitting in lawns for months. Still, experts say it’s okay to list your house now. In fact, it could play to your advantage.
“Homes are taking a little longer to sell than in recent years, but buyers are still out there — and they’re serious,” says Ebonee Johnikin, a real estate agent based in Laurel, MS. “Sellers who price their homes right are seeing good offers.”
So, could listing now be right for you? Read on for some reasons why you should be the early bird of the 2025 real estate market.
1. Housing inventory is still low — for now
2024 was marked with low housing inventory and, so far, inventory is still pretty slim in 2025. This is good news for sellers—because they don’t have a lot of competition.
But experts say more listings may be popping up soon. Indeed, the Realtor.com® 2025 Housing Forecast anticipates “existing for-sale inventory to be 11.7% higher in 2025 than in 2024.”
Alex Platt, a real estate broker in South Florida confirms: “We’ve seen an increase in inventory every week so far in 2025. If you are considering selling, I’d suggest doing it sooner than later because there will likely be more homes for sale.”
Johnikin agrees that inventory is expected to rise in her area, although only slightly. Still, even a modest increase in inventory means more options for buyers.
“Selling now could be a smart move before competition increases,” she advises.
The same is also true in California. While Alyssa DeBoo, a real estate agent based in San Diego, reveals that homes in her area are often on the market longer than homeowners would like (about 30 days on average); but she says not to be fooled — there’s high demand for quality properties. So, if you have a well-maintained home, “it can be a good time to sell and maximize profits,” she says.
2. Home prices are expected to remain stable—so you’re unlikely to miss out on a bigger payday later this year
Homeowners want to sell their homes at the best price possible—and may end up kicking themselves if they sell right before a surge in property values. (Those who sold in early 2020 might have gotten way more if they’d sold just a few months later!)
Of course, no one can predict the future, but the Realtor.com 2025 Housing Forecast anticipates that home prices won’t make any big leaps this year. In fact, the report predicts a tiny increase of just 3.7%.
So, if you’re interested in selling now, take comfort: “Sellers who list now aren’t likely to miss out on major gains later in the year,” Johnikin says.
Still, she notes that those slight increases could come back to bite homeowners, who might be faced with cautious, bargain-hunting buyers later in the year.
“For buyers, even small price increases can add up when paired with today’s rates,” Johnikin says. “The bottom line is that if you’re ready to sell, now’s a solid time to do it.”
3. Mortgage rates are comparatively low
In recent years, homeowners were reluctant to sell because mortgage interest rates were so high.
High rates can cause a “lock-in” effect: Homeowners feel stuck in their houses because, if their property sold—and they had to buy a new house — they would have to get a new mortgage at a much higher rate. Some refer to this as “golden handcuffs.”
But rates eased up a bit in 2024 and are expected to continue to decrease (albeit moderately).
Of course, Johnikin warns that homeowners with very low rates (in the 2% or 3% range) may still be hesitant to sell, but compared to recent years, today’s sellers won’t lose out as much by trading in their current mortgage for a new one.
4. Winter can be a surprisingly good time to list
Seasonally, experts say the first months of the year can be a great time to sell.
Cedric Stewart of Entourage RG of Keller Williams in the Washington, D.C., area points out that many people find themselves with extra cash from work bonuses and tax refunds. This could lead to more (and higher) bids.
Stewart acknowledges that homeowners who list in the winter months typically won’t get as many offers as those who list in the summer — as there aren’t as many people house hunting. Still, he says that those few offers could be more lucrative.
“In June, you may get more offers, but there may be four or five other homes that folks are looking at that are similar to yours,” he says. “You may not be the belle of the ball. You may have to make some improvements to be the shining star. Whereas people that need to move in January, you’re probably the only game in town. And so they have to deal with you. Because the reality is, the people who need to move right now, need to move right now.”
5. Sellers who also plan to buy can beat the summer crowds
Another advantage of selling now is that homeowners can both get a good price on their home and move into their next place before the market starts heating up.
Stewart explains that the best time to move is when there isn’t too much buyer competition. Sellers who get out of their homes now can still enter the market as a buyer “before the prices get spring- and summer-crazy,” he says.
6. Personal reasons to sell often trump market uncertainty
While timing the market when listing a property can work to a seller’s advantage, homeowners should not be dissuaded from listing if they need to move, whether for a job, change in family size, retirement, or any other reason.
“Whether you’re buying or selling, the key is making a move when it makes sense for your household —not just chasing market predictions,” says Crystalle Guss, a Realtor in Denver.
Platt adds: “If you need/want to sell your house, why wait? You can’t time the market, so list when it is the right time for you.”
4 Tips for those looking to sell now:
1. Price correctly
It’s true: These days, houses are sitting on the market for longer than most sellers would like. However, experts say that buyers are out there, and they’re looking for quality homes.
DeBoo says that in California, affordability is often an issue. So, she says that pricing appropriately can help sellers sell quickly.
“Know what things are going for in your area,” she says, explaining that, in many areas, buyers have few options and would be pleasantly surprised to find a fairly priced home.
2. Make home updates before listing
Guss explains that those with move-in ready, well-maintained homes have the best shot at selling quickly.
“Look around and objectively ask yourself, ‘If I moved in today, how much would need to be updated in this house?’” she says. “Quality has become the standard among a lot of buyers. It’s expected.”
3. Be flexible
Johnikin says that homeowners can get their homes sold faster by using flexible selling strategies. Perhaps they could consider offering incentives — like paying for a buyer’s agent or other closing costs or offering rate buy-downs.
“Well-priced homes are still moving quickly, so staying realistic and flexible will be key,” she says. “It’s about strategy here.”
4. Choose your agent carefully
Amber Brown, a real estate broker in Waco, TX, says that in this competitive market, it’s important for sellers to be strategic about the real estate professional they use, selecting one who has a reputation of elevated professionalism, ethics, and skill.
“Ask people who they refer to when they hire someone, or for a recommended agent from someone who has used them before — and not on Facebook!” she says, noting that over 74% of real estate professionals didn’t sell a single home in 2024.
“Interview them, vet them, and hold them accountable,” Brown urges.