When is the Best Month to Sell a Home?

While it is true that there are more real estate home sales occur in the spring and summer than the rest of the year, homes sell every month of the year. 

In St. Louis, a small percentage of the annual sales actually close each month, ranging from 5-11% of annual sales closing each month.

While there are definitely more buyers looking in the spring and summer months, there are also more non-serious buyers and there is more competition. If you price your home correctly, you can sell your home in December...or any other month of the year.

If you are trying to decide when to sell your home, the answer is that there are buyers every month. However, if you also need to buy a new home and you want as many homes to choose from as possible, then selling in spring or summer gives you the most choices for your new home.

Take a look at the charts I put together for sales by month in St. Louis from 2006 - 2011.

One thing to keep in mind is that most St. Louis area real estate home sales take about 30-45 days from the time they get an accepted contract until they are closed. The homes that 'SOLD' in May usually went under contract in March or April.

If you were thinking of moving this summer, it's not too late to list your home. While contract offers typically slow down during August as families focus on Back-To-School, homes do continue to sell through the fall and winter. 

So if you really wanted to move this summer but just haven't had a chance to get your house on the market yet, it isn't too late.

Put your house on the market in July and get moved into a new home in late summer or fall. Or take your time, and put your house on the market in the fall or winter. With buyers purchasing every month, there's no need to wait until next spring to sell your home.

More St. Louis real estate sales trends...