Is It Time To Put Your House Back on the Market?

If you took your house off the market in late 2024, youre not the only one. Newsweek reports that data from CoreLogic and the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) says nearly 73,000 homes were pulled from the market in December alone that's more than any other December going all the way back to 2017 (see graph below):

Whether it was because offers werent coming in, the timing around the holidays felt overwhelming, or they wanted to see if the market would improve in the new year a lot of other homeowners decided to press pause, too.

But now, with spring fast approaching, its time to reassess. The market is already picking up, and waiting any longer to jump back in may only mean youd face more competition from other sellers down the road.

Why Now Could Be the Right Time 

Selma Hepp, Chief Economist at CoreLogic, explains that some of those sellers may have pulled their listings late last year with the goal of trying again this spring: 

Another reason for a step back could be that sellers wanted to wait and see how spring home buying season goes, and if mortgage rates fall, which would bring more home buyers and competition back in the market.

Thats because spring is when buyer demand is typically at its highest point for the year. More people start their home search once the weather warms up. Theyre eager to close on a home so they can move in during the summer. So, its a great window for sellers. It means more buyers.

And while mortgage rates havent fallen dramatically, they have come down some in recent weeks. Early signs already show buyers are becoming more active as a result. Since January, demand has picked up and that should continue as spring draws even closer.

What To Do Differently This Time

Start by checking the status of your listing agreement. Because even if you pulled your listing, you may still be under contract. And until your listing expires, your agent or brokerage is your best resource on what else you could try to get it sold. Realtor.com offers this advice:

If you aren't sure of the status of your listing, whether active, expired, or withdrawn, take a look at your listing agreement and talk to your real estate agent.

If your contract is still active, nows the perfect time to reconnect with your agent to explore strategies to get your home sold this time around. If your contract has expired and youre considering other options, reach out to a trusted real estate professional who can help you figure out where to go from here.

Either way, take some time to reflect on your last experience. What held you back from getting it sold before? And what can you do to improve your chances this time around? 

Be sure to include your agent in this thought process. Theyll give you an objective point of view and some advice based on what may have gone wrong last time, like: 

• Your Pricing Strategy: Did buyers overlook your house because it was priced too high? Your real estate agent can help you analyze the latest sales in your area to make sure youre hitting the right number. Believe it or not, you could actually be leaving money on the table by not pricing competitively. When its priced appropriately for the market, your opportunities for multiple offers and buyer competition increase.
• Your Marketing Approach: Was your home staged to look its best? Did you use a skilled photographer for your listing photos? Small tweaks can make a big difference in how buyers see your house. Something as simple as taking new photos now that its spring can help your house show better than it did in the winter listing.
• Offering Concessions: Were you willing to offer incentives to buyers? As the supply of homes for sale grows, more sellers are entertaining the idea of concessions or incentives to get the deal done. If you werent open to those conversations, that may have been a factor, too.
• Showings and Flexibility: Did you have limits on when buyers could see the home? If your house is accessible and available, youll likely get more offers.  

Bottom Line

If your house didnt sell last year, spring may be your second chance. With buyer activity rising, its the perfect time to talk to an agent about coming back into the market with a fresh strategy. 

What do you want to do differently this time around? Talk to your agent to go over your options and make a plan.