Homes Sell for $6,000 More in Late May, Zillow Finds
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For homeowners planning a move this year, choosing the right few weeks to list their house could be worth thousands, according to Zillow, Seattle.
“Sellers who listed their home for sale in the last two weeks of May earned the highest sale prices,” Zillow reported after analyzing 2025 home sales in the nation’s 35 largest metro areas. “Homes listed in late May sold for 1.7% more nationally, or about $6,000 more on a typical U.S. home.”
Why late spring? Buyer demand typically peaks before Memorial Day. Families want to move during the summer and settle in before the new school year. More buyers shopping at once can spark competition and lift prices, the report noted.
Kara Ng, senior economist with Zillow, said late spring is when motivation and momentum meet. “Buyers are eager to move before summer vacations and the new school year, and sellers who hit the market at that moment can benefit from heightened competition,” she said. But she noted the best time to list ultimately depends on what’s happening in your local market.
While the national sweet spot falls in late May, the financial upside varies widely by city and by price point. In some of the country’s most expensive markets, timing can unlock tens of thousands of dollars.
For example, sellers in San Jose, Calif., who listed in the first two weeks of February saw a 3.1% sale premium–a $53,800 boost on a typical home there. In Boston, listing in the last two weeks of May netted sellers 3.4% more or $25,300 on average, while Seattle sellers maximized profits by listing in the first two weeks of April, earning an additional 2.9% or $22,600.
Midwestern markets showed some of the strongest seasonal price swings. “Sellers in Cleveland, Columbus, Kansas City and Minneapolis saw premiums at or above 3% during their peak listing periods,” the report said. “In Texas, the ideal listing windows arrived earlier in the spring. Sellers in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio all saw the strongest returns in the last two weeks of April. In Austin, the sweet spot came even earlier, in the last two weeks of March.”
By contrast, Baltimore’s market peaked the latest, with sellers earning a 2.0% premium, about $8,000, when listing in the last two weeks of June.
Of course, mortgage rate swings also influence buyer demand. When rates fall, more shoppers reenter the market. When rates rise, some buyers pause. That dynamic can amplify or soften the traditional spring surge, Zillow acknowledged.
