Nationwide, a Thursday during the second half of April is the best time to list a home for sale, according to Zillow’s analysis of 2021 home sales. Homes listed during those weeks can expect to fetch 2.8 percent more, or about $9,300 on the typical home. And homes listed on Thursdays, when shoppers are planning for weekend showings, can sell for about $1,100 more.
The first two weeks of November are the worst time to list a home, associated with a 3.5 percent discount. The potential price difference between the best and worst times to list is 68 percent higher than it was before the pandemic.
The housing market since the pandemic hit is very different from two years ago, with intense demand and record-low inventory fueling fierce competition and fast sales year-round. But listing a home for sale in the spring still yields the best results. Listing during the best or worst times of the year can impact a sale price by as much as $21,000, compared with a difference of only $12,500 before the pandemic.
“With inventory as low as it is, homesellers can expect a quick sale pretty much year-round,” Zillow Economist Nicole Bachaud said in a release. “Even as frantic buyers are snapping up homes days after they hit the market and often bidding them up above list price, there is still value to be had by listing a home during the right time of year, which is in the spring in most cases. This is a friendly market for sellers, but those who are simultaneously buying need a firm grasp on the right tools and strategies to win their next home.”
That being said, advice does vary market to market. If 2021 trends hold true this year, among the 35 largest metro areas, San Francisco, San Jose, Calif., Portland, Ore., and Austin, Texas, would have seen the best time to list a home to be as early as the second half of February.
By contrast, Los Angeles has the latest ideal time to list; those who listed their home in late December last year saw the biggest price benefit, just edging out late March. LA metro inventory was 20 percent lower in December than March, likely contributing to increased demand.
Nevertheless, listing in April or May is the sweet spot in most large markets. Nationwide, the worst time to list a home is during the first two weeks of November, when homes sell for a 3.5 percent discount.