Business
Best time to list: Homes sell for $6,000 more in late May
Zillow data shows sellers who list during peak weeks can earn an extra $50,000 or more in some marketsHomes listed in the last two weeks of May sold for 1.7%
About this update from Zillow Group, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Zillow data shows sellers who list during peak weeks can earn an extra $50,000 or more in some marketsHomes listed in the last two weeks of May sold for 1.7% more nationwide, or about $6,000 on a typical U.S. home.Timing can mean upwards of $20,000 of added value in Boston and Seattle to more than $50,000 in San Jose.The best time to list ranges from early February in San Jose to late June in Baltimore.SEATTLE, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- For homeowners planning a move this year, choosing the right two weeks could be worth thousands. Sellers who listed their home for sale in the last two weeks of May earned the highest sale prices, according to a new Zillow® Best Time to List analysis of 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.\nWhy 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.\"Late spring is when motivation and momentum meet,\" said Zillow Senior Economist Kara Ng. \"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. But the best week to list ultimately depends on what is happening in your local market.\"Timing varies by metroWhile the national sweet spot falls in late May, the financial upside varies widely by city and price point. In some of the country's most expensive markets, timing can unlock tens of thousands of dollars. Sellers in San Jose 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.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 Austi...