Spring Fever
The best time to put a house on the market, specifically, is a Saturday in early May.
Homes listed between May 1 and May 15 sold nine days faster and for 0.8 percent more than any other time of the year, on average, according to a Zillow study that surveyed the best time to list in 25 different metro areas.
In general across the U.S., the best day of the week to list is a Saturday, when homes get 20 percent more views, followed by a Friday, when properties receive 14 percent more views.
Of course, all real estate is local, so markets vary. In Seattle, homes listed in the ideal window, May 1 to May 15, sold for 2.5 percent more, the highest average sales premium. In that market, the ideal day is a Thursday. The lowest premiums occur in New York/northern New Jersey and the Miami/Fort Lauderdale area, which only see a 0.7 percent bump.
Additionally, plenty of markets have slightly different ideal two-week time frames. Miami’s ideal time is as early as March 1 to March 15, while San Francisco’s is as late as May 16 to May 31, and several markets’ ideal times are also in April, including Washington, D.C., Atlanta and Baltimore.
| Metro Area | Ideal Time Frame to List Home | Days Sold Faster than Average | Average Sales Premium (%) | Average Sales Premium ($) | Ideal Day of the Week to List |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | May 1-15 | 9 | 0.8 | 1,500 | Saturday |
| New York/Northern New Jersey | May 1-15 | 7.5 | 0.7 | 2,600 | Saturday |
| Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | April 16-30 | 15 | 1 | 5,600 | Friday |
| Chicago, IL | May 1-15 | 12.5 | 1.3 | 2,500 | Friday |
| Dallas-Fort Worth, TX | May 1-15 | 9 | 1.3 | 2,400 | Saturday |
| Philadelphia, PA | May 1-15 | 9.75 | 1 | 2,000 | Friday |
| Washington, DC | April 1-15 | 15 | 1.2 | 4,500 | Thursday |
| Miami-Fort Lauderdale, FL | March 1-15 | 8 | 0.7 | 1,500 | Saturday |
| Atlanta, GA | April 1-15 | 19 | 1.4 | 2,200 | Friday |
| Boston, MA | April 16-30 | 13.5 | 1.2 | 4,500 | Wednesday |
| San Francisco, CA | May 16-31 | 5.5 | 1.3 | 10,200 | Friday |
| Detroit, MI | March 16-31 | 17.5 | 1.5 | 1,900 | Sunday |
| Riverside, CA | April 1-15 | 15 | 1.1 | 3,400 | Friday |
| Phoenix, AZ | April 16-30 | 14.5 | 0.8 | 1,700 | Saturday |
| Seattle, WA | May 1-15 | 15 | 2.5 | 9,300 | Thursday |
| Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN | May 16-31 | 6 | 1.4 | 3,200 | Friday |
| San Diego, CA | April 1-15 | 13 | 1.3 | 6,200 | Saturday |
| St. Louis, MO | May 1-15 | 10.5 | 1.3 | 1,800 | Saturday |
| Tampa, FL | March 1-15 | 10.5 | 0.9 | 1,500 | Saturday |
| Baltimore, MD | April 1-15 | 21.5 | 0.9 | 2,300 | Saturday |
| Denver, CO | May 1-15 | 8 | 1.7 | 5,600 | Friday |
| Pittsburgh, PA | March 16-31 | 17 | 0.9 | 1,100 | Saturday |
| Portland, OR | May 1-15 | 16.5 | 2 | 6,300 | Friday |
| Charlotte, NC | May 1-15 | 12.25 | 1.1 | 1,700 | Saturday |
| Sacramento, CA | April 1-15 | 17.5 | 2 | 6,600 | Saturday |
| San Jose, CA | May 1-15 | 9 | 1.6 | 14,900 | Wednesday |
