How Long Will It Take To Sell Your House?

As youre getting ready to sell your house, one of the first questions youre probably asking is, how long is this going to take? And that makes senseyou want to know what to expect.

While every market is different, understanding whats happening nationally can give you a good baseline. But for an even more detailed look at real estate conditions in your area, connect with a local real estate agent. They know your local market best and can explain whats happening near you and how it compares to national trends.

Heres a look at some of thethings a great agent will walk you through during that conversation.

More Homes Are on the Market, and Thats Affecting How Long They Take To Sell

According to Realtor.com, the number of homes for sale has been going up this year. That means there are more options for buyers, which is great news for anyone looking to buy a home. But as a seller, it also means homes are staying on the market a bit longer now that buyers have more options to choose from (see graph below):

One of the big reasons homes sold so fast in recent years is because there were so few of them for sale. And now that there are more houses on the market, it makes sense that they arent selling at quite the same pace. Right now, according to Realtor.com, it takes 55 days from the time a house is listed for it to be officially sold and closed on.

But keep this in mind. While homes might not be selling as quickly as they did last year at this time, theyre still selling faster than they did in more normal years in the housing market, before the pandemic.

If you look back at 2017-2019 in the graph above, youll see that it was typical for a house to take 60 days or more to sell. So, todays process is still faster than the norm.

Thats because, even with more homes for sale, there are still more buyers than homes for sale. So, homes that show well and are priced right are selling fast. As NerdWallet explains:

Overall, though, demand still outpaces supply. This is hardly a mellow market: Good homes sell quickly . . .

Your Agent Can Help Your Home Stand Out

If youre looking for ways to make your move happen as quickly as possible, partnering with a great local agent is the key. Your real estate agent will help you with everything from setting the right price to staging your home so it looks its best. Theyll even create a marketing plan that grabs buyers attention and will give you key insights about whats happening in your specific area, so you can plan accordingly and make the process go as smoothly as possible.

So, while homes might be on the market a little longer than before, theyre still selling faster than the norm. If you have the right agent and the right strategy in place, your house may even sell faster than youd expect.

Bottom Line

If youre planning to sell your house, knowing how long it might take is a big part of planning your next steps. By working with a local expert, youll be able to price, market, and sell your home with confidence.