The Secret To Selling Fast, No Matter the Market

When you put your house on the market, you dont just want it to sell. You want it to sell fast. But the thing is, nationally, its taking a little longer to sell lately. And that slowdown can feel frustrating if you want a fast process. Heres what you need to realize.

In every market right now, theres one clear exception:

Well-priced, well-presented homes are still selling, and its often faster than youd expect.

If you can tap into that, you can still set yourself up to move quickly, too. Heres how to get it done.

How Long It Takes To Sell Today

According to Realtor.com, homes are selling in about 52 days right now. Thats how long the process takes from the day it hits the market until closing day.

And while that may sound slow to you, its not slow. Its normal.

Thats because its pretty much right in line with what it was during the last normal years in the market (see 2018-2019 in the graph below):

It just feels slow when youre eager to move or when you think back a few years to when homes seemed to sell almost instantly.

But heres what matters most. The market is normalizing. Not at a standstill.

This is the norm for timing from start to finish. You may have an accepted offer in hand even faster than this.

Markets Where Homes Still Sell Quickly, Even Now

Zillow says the typical home will go pending or under contract in 19 days. Some homes even see it happen in as little as 7 days. It just depends on where you are and how you prep your house.

So, dont let the slowing pace of sales stress you out. Homes can still sell fast, if theyre positioned right.

Just to show you, heres a quick look at some of the markets that are moving faster than the norm, according to Zillow (see map below). Thisll show you how different it can be based on where you live.

The key things you need to remember when looking at this visual:

• It varies a lot based on where you live. Within the same state, individual neighborhoods or pockets may sell much faster than the norm.
• Even in slower moving states, you can still sell quickly. As the map shows, in those places there are still homes that go under contract in as little as a week.

So dont worry about if your state made either list. As Orphe Divounguy, Senior Economist at Zillow, says:

The cream of the crop is still selling fast, even in markets that have slowed considerably. . .

The Big Reasons Some Homes Sit, and Some Sell Fast

And heres the big secret. While location can definitely play a role, its not just about location. Its about strategy.

Todays buyers are paying attention to condition. Theyre comparing photos, upgrades, layout, location, and price. And theyre choosing homes that feel move-in ready and well worth the value.

The homes that check those boxes? Theyre not sitting for long no matter where they are.

As the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) explains:

. . . some homes are still flying off the shelves. These houses are often in the Midwest or Northeast, where the lack of new construction keeps a lid on supply. Certain homes in other markets are selling quickly, too, often when a home is move-in ready.

Because in any market hot or not if a home is overpriced, needs too much work, or just doesnt meet current buyer expectations, its not going to sell.

In this market, the sellers who win are the ones who get real about their house. Theyre honest about how their home compares to other listings, realistic about price, and they work with an agent who truly understands todays market and what it takes to sell.

When your agent knows how to price strategically, spotlight the strengths of your home, and move quickly when the market gives clear signals, thats when the results follow.

Bottom Line

Today's housing market rewards the right strategy. Because even in a slower area, the homes that are priced realistically and positioned well are still selling sometimes faster than you may expect.

Connect with a local agent if youre ready to make yours one of them.