Why waiting until Spring could COST you...

One question I'm getting a lot lately is whether it makes sense to list now or wait until spring. 

 

Here's a helpful way to think about it.

 

In October, inventory typically peaks, and this past October we reached 6,572 single-family homes on the market. Since then, inventory has already dropped to roughly 5,200 homes, and February is historically the month with the lowest inventory of the year.

 

Fewer homes on the market means buyers have less to choose from, which can put sellers in a stronger position, especially when a home is priced and prepared correctly. 

 

If we look at the Covid-era market, it wasn't just demand... it was extremely low inventory. During that time, we average between 1,600 and 2,800 homes on the market, and inventory didn't begin meaningfully increasing again until mid-2022. 

 

Spring can absolutely bring more buyers... but it also brings more competition. More listings gives buyers options, which can soften urgency if a home isn't positioned well. 

 

There's no one-size-fits-all answer. The best move depends on your goals, timeline, and how your home fits into today's inventory levels.

 

If you're curious what listing now versus waiting could look like for you specifically, I'm always happy to walk through numbers.