FCCB Blog

If you're thinking of selling your home, you’re likely thinking of listing it in the spring. The season of sunshine and renewal is traditionally the best time of year for home shopping. Before you start prepping your house for a photo shoot, though, take a step back. The factors that make spring a great time to sell a home may not hold true for your individual circumstances. Let’s take a closer look at why spring is known to be the hottest season in real estate, and whether these reasons hold true for you. 

Why is the real estate market so hot in the spring?

In much of the country, springtime features the most pleasant weather of the year. This makes it the perfect time for home-shoppers to check out potential properties. Additionally, spring marks the end of the school year, making it an ideal time for families with school-age children to purchase a new home. This way, they can pack, move and settle into their new home before the new school year begins. Finally, the longer daylight hours allow for more flexibility in scheduling home viewings.

From the seller’s end, the mild weather is super-convenient for making any repairs the home may need. The cold, dark days of winter can easily lead to neglect, and a property strewn with piles of leaves or stained siding on a home can be a quick turnoff for a prospective buyer. In addition, the season's warm weather highlights the home's exterior, showcasing green grass, blossoming flowers and shrubs, as well as any other attractive features. Why not show your home in the best possible light?

Do homes really sell faster in the spring?

Studies have shown that homes listed in late spring to early summer do sell faster and at higher prices than those listed during other times of the year. For example, an ATTOM Data Solutions analysis of 14.7 million homes sold over a span of 6 years proved the best month to sell a home is May. Most homes sold during this month closed at 5.9% above their estimated market value when compared against other months. In another study, Zillow found that homes sold during the first two weeks of May tend to be on the market less time than homes sold at any other time of year.  Finally, according to Realtor.com, homes listed during the spring are 1% less likely to sell with a price cut than homes listed during the rest of the year. 

Is the “springtime to market” rule for everyone? 

Before you run to list your home this spring, consider these factors, which may influence your decision:

• The local market. If your neighborhood is flooded with homes on the market and your house does not have any significant features setting it apart from the other homes for sale, you may want to wait until the market cools off a bit before listing your home – even if that time is not in the spring. 
• The local climate. If the weather in your area of the country is generally mild throughout the year, or the warmer weather doesn’t hit until mid-summer, you may want to reconsider listing your home in early spring.
• Your preferred time to move. As the seller, you need to take your own family’s needs into consideration when listing your home. What is the ideal month for your family to make a household move? Choose a time, and then work backward, allowing at least three months from your chosen moving date to prep your home for the market, list it, go under contract with a buyer and close the transaction. 

Springtime can be the perfect season for selling your home, but this rule does not hold true for 

everyone. Use the tips outlined here to make an informed choice about when to put your home on the market.

Whether you choose to put your house on the market in spring or you decide you’d be better off waiting until summer or fall, we wish you a smooth sale at the best possible price. Don’t forget to stop by FCCB to ask about our fantastic home loan options when you’re ready to start looking for a new place to call home.