GutesaMilos – stock.adobe.com
Spring has nearly sprung — and soon the housing market will, too.
An annual study by Realtor.com analyzed six years of market data and found that one week reigns supreme for selling one’s home. The week of April 13 to 19 consistently ranks as the best time for a house to hit the market.
The mid-April timeframe aligns with peak seasonal pricing, increased buyer demand and lower listing competition — a winning combination for any home seller.
The Realtor.com analysis indicated that sellers can make more money in a shorter amount of time if they list during this sunny window of opportunity, compared to the average week.
These fruitful seven days were identified by analyzing average listing performances, measured based on home prices, days on the market, buyer activity and other factors.
Homes listed between April 13 to 19 historically reached higher prices than the average week, translating to an estimated $4,800 increase in listing prices.
The findings are bad news for sellers who jumped the gun earlier this year. Mid-April sales achieve 6.7% higher prices compared to the start of the year. Homes sold in January may have lost up to $27,000 in potential earnings, according to Realtor.com. Post-holiday blues and frigid winter weather do no favors for curb appeal.
Buyer demand is also more intense during the special spring week. Homes typically get 17.7% more views during April 13 to 19 than the average week. They also sell faster — an average of nine days faster, the report said.
Spring sellers will also find that competition loosens up during this golden week, giving their home a chance to stand out. The April 13 to 19 timeframe historically sees 13.2% fewer sellers enter the market, the analysis found.
There is less market competition for 2025 sellers in general. National housing inventories have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels — inventory in January was still down 24.8% compared to pre-pandemic times, according to Realtor.com.
But buyers beware, while mid-April favors the seller, early October is a winning time for buyers. Demand wanes in the fall as families return to school and busy schedules. Realtor.com previously identified the week of Sept. 29 through Oct. 5 as the ideal time for buyers to find the best deals.
Spring is generally a red-hot time for the broader real estate market as both buyers and sellers unthaw from the winter.
Warmer weather and blooming gardens bring greater curb appeal to homes, so sellers shouldn’t wait until after the first bloom to list.