When is the best time to list your home for sale?

Every day when I am out and about, I am asked, "How is the market?" and "When is the best time to sell?" Of course, the answers to those questions are ever changing. In the past everyone agreed that spring was the best time to sell your home. Not anymore! We are currently in a "seller's" market due to an extreme shortage of inventory. Not only in the Seattle area but nationwide.

There are many reasons for this inventory shortage -

• Low interest rates.
• More people are working from home and need/want increased space.
• In the Seattle area Google, Microsoft, Amazon, etc. continue to hire more employees from other parts of the country/world.
• There is a back log of people relocating from India for tech jobs (in the Seattle area) waiting to buy homes. They have to wait 2-3 years to establish credit and save a down payment.
• Baby boomers are downsizing and many are buying vacation/second homes.
• Millennials are purchasing their first homes.
• The lack of land to build new construction.

All of these factors are causing a housing shortage as well as major price increases. Buyers are frustrated with participating in bidding wars. I have heard of some writing over 20 offers before they finally have an offer accepted. Last summer I had two listings that each went $400,000. over list price. One had 12 offers and the other had 19. All of my other listings in 2021 also sold substantially over full price. It's insane!

The answer to the question, "When is the best time to list a home for sale?" is NOW! There is no need to wait for spring and you probably don't need to do as much as you think you do to prepare your home for sale. If you are considering selling, I recommend while the market is hot. Buyers are not stopping their search during the holidays or in January when the weather is bad. I guarantee it.

I am always available to take a look at your home and discuss what needs to be done before going on the market (even in December).

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