Homebuyers

When is the Best Time to Sell a Home? Two New Studies Point to Spring

For homeowners planning to sell this year, the timing of when they list could make a measurable difference in how much cash they walk away with at closing.

Two new analyses from Realtor.com and Zillow show that the spring housing market continues to be the best time for sellers. This is the season when buyer demand rises and competition can push prices higher.

However, the exact timing may differ based on your location and how exactly you define success. Each real estate portal provided different predictions.

Here’s what sellers need to know as they eye the upcoming calendar.

Realtor.com: Mid-April offers the “goldilocks” window

Realtor.com predicts the week of April 12–18 will be the optimal time to list a home this year, according to a recent report. That could lead to a national median listing price approximately $5,300 above the yearly average and about $26,000 higher than at the beginning of the year, according to Realtor.com.

The timing reflects what researchers call a “Goldilocks” moment in the housing market. This is when buyer demand is strong, competition among sellers remains relatively limited, and homes typically sell quickly.

Historically, homes listed during this mid-April period receive 16.7% more views on Realtor.com than the average week of the year. They also sell about 17% faster, roughly nine days sooner than usual.

“After years of being squeezed by limited inventory and high rates, the 2026 housing market is starting to feel more approachable for those who have been sidelined,” said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com. “This shift doesn’t just mean more options. Lower rates and tempered price growth should give buyers’ some budget breathing room.”

Homes listed during this period also tend to experience fewer price cuts, with approximately 18.9% fewer listings reducing their prices compared to the annual average. 

Zillow: Late May brings the highest sale prices

While Realtor.com identifies mid-April as the best time to list, Zillow’s research shows that homeowners who listed in the last two weeks of May achieved the highest sale prices.

Based on an analysis of 2025 home sales in the nation’s 35 largest metro areas, Zillow found that homes listed in late May sold for 1.7% more nationally, or about $6,000 more on a typical home.

The reason is largely seasonal: buyer demand usually peaks just before summer begins. Families frequently aim to purchase homes in late spring so they can move during the summer months and settle in before the new school year begins.

“Late spring is when motivation and momentum meet,” Kara Ng, senior economist at Zillow said in a statement. “Buyers are eager to move before summer vacations and the new school year, and sellers who hit the market at that time can benefit from increased competition.”

The best timing to put a home up for sale can vary by city

Although national data points to late spring as the ideal selling window, Zillow’s research found that the optimal listing period varies widely by location.

In some high-priced markets, timing can unlock tens of thousands of dollars in added value.

Sellers in Silicon Valley’s San Jose, Calif., for instance, saw the biggest benefit by listing early in the year. Homes listed during the first two weeks of February sold for about 3.1% more. That added up to roughly $53,800 extra on a typical home.

In Boston, Mass., however, the best timing aligned with the national trend. Sellers who listed in the last two weeks of May earned about 3.4% more, or roughly $25,300 on average.

Meanwhile, Texas markets tended to peak earlier in the spring. Sellers in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio achieved their best results by listing in the last two weeks of April. In Austin, the optimal period was even earlier, during the final two weeks of March.

In a nutshell: Sellers aiming to maximize their return should remember that the best strategy is to analyze current conditions in their specific area, considering housing inventory, price trends, and days on market. They can work with a local real estate agent who can identify the ideal time to list based on neighborhood-level demand.

Mortgage rates still shape housing demand

Even with strong seasonal patterns, broader economic factors, especially mortgage rates, still impact the housing market.

When borrowing costs decrease, more buyers tend to reenter the market. That can boost competition…and prices. Meanwhile, when rates rise, some potential buyers pause their search.

Mortgage rates have hovered in the low-6% range in early 2026, which could help bring more buyers back into the market this spring. That renewed demand is expected to coincide with the traditional seasonal surge in home shopping.

Taken together, the two reports reinforce the same message: spring is still the most powerful selling season in real estate.

Whether homeowners list in mid-April or late May, selling during the peak spring period may help attract more buyers and potentially increase the final sale price.