Is Spring really the best time to sell? When is the “right” time?  

When selling a home in Tampa Bay, timing isn’t everything. Of course, in today’s real estate market, it can definitely influence how long it takes to sell and the price you can get for your home.   

The “right” time to sell your house depends on your specific goals and circumstances. That said, if you’re like most sellers in that you care about selling high and fast — here’s when you should list your house (how about now?!) with the Heffernan Real Estate Group.  

Selling Season

Around here, anytime is a great time to sell. We have people moving to the Tampa Bay area every day to enjoy our endless summers. 

Of course, there are some general seasonal considerations when you go to sell your home:  

• Spring: Peak buyer demand typically increases inventory, meaning more competition on the market 
• Summer: High competition to sell as buyers with families tend to be highly motivated to move before the school year begins 
• Fall: Listing activity slows for both buyers or sellers 
• Winter: Considered ‘off-season’ for buyers. Often the slowest time of year for many markets, but they tend to be more qualified and serious. Plus, around here we have snowbirds who want to make a permanent move or buy a vacation property. This is why December tends to be the best time to sell based on price and November is when homes sell fast. 

Agent Tip: The right time to sell can vary by season and even neighborhood. Before you list, make sure to get the best local advice. It’s free! 

Deciding When to Sell Your House 

An old real estate “rule” was to wait until the flowers start to bloom to put your house on the market. And, Spring does have peak buyer demand thanks to tax refunds, nicer (less humid) weather to look at properties, and summer break if they have kids to make the upcoming move easier. Recently, the uptick in local home sales is changing normal seasonality trends in real estate. 

Regardless of the time of year, the most important thing to consider when deciding to sell your home is you. You have to think about your needs, finances, timeline, and life goals – not just a hot real estate market. Waiting for peak market conditions isn’t worth missing especially if you have new life opportunities waiting for you.  

If you have some flexibility with your home sale, doing some market research will increase your chances of getting the best price possible. Right now, homes for sale are scarce, but there is still high demand, leading to higher offer prices, fewer contingencies, and faster closings. All good news for sellers. 

Still not sure when to sell? Don’t wait. Ask our local real estate agents now! It’s free, and there’s never any obligation to sign with us. 

What Can Impact Your Listing 

Obviously, seasonality will have some effect on your property’s listing. As does inventory; competition from other sellers on the market is a big factor that can impact your final sales price. But these aren’t the only things to keep in mind when deciding when’s the right time to put your home up for sale.  

Potential sellers have to consider current conditions of the market. Detail is key as these local market conditions can also vary neighborhood by neighborhood (ex. South Tampa compared to Seminole Heights). Other listing influencers are things outside of your control including job growth, mortgage interest rates, and homebuying tax incentives.  

When you work with an agent, we’ll look at the overall picture. We have access to important data to know before deciding to sell your Florida home. A real estate professional knows:  

• monthly inventory 
• average sale prices 
• sale-to-list ratios 
• days on market (DOM) 

We compile this data into a comparative market analysis (CMA) which is an estimate of a home’s value based on similar properties, recently sold in your immediate area. This CMA report helps our sellers to set the best listing prices for their homes.  

MORE: Getting The Best PayBack From Home Improvements 

Let’s List Your Home 

You don’t need to wait for the “best” time to sell your house. If you’re thinking about selling your house, go ahead and list it. We have more buyers than we have sellers locally. If current conditions hold, sellers will have it good for some time.  

In the current real estate market, you can expect your home to sell fairly quickly for the asking price, even possibly above, and are more likely to receive multiple offers. 

When is the best time to sell? Whenever you’re ready. Get a comparative market analysis (CMA) from the Heffernan Team or call (813) 857-8592 to speak with a top local agent. We’re the key to your real estate needs.