Homes sell for $5,600 more when they are listed in late May

Rhea-AI Summary

Zillow research reveals optimal timing for home listings, with properties listed in late May 2024 selling for 1.6% more ($5,600 premium on typical U.S. homes). The analysis shows peak search activity occurs before Memorial Day, as buyers prepare for summer moves and fall school starts.

Timing varies by region: San Diego and Austin see best results in late March, while Phoenix peaks in November. Notable premiums vary significantly - San Jose sellers gained 5.3% ($93,200) in late March, while Orlando saw just 0.9% in early May.

Beyond timing, sellers can maximize returns through strategic listing practices:

• Using MLS listings (avoiding non-MLS listings that sell for 1.5% less)
• Highlighting valuable outdoor features (outdoor TVs add $10,749)
• Utilizing comprehensive online listings with high-res images and 3D tours (2% premium)

Positive

• Premium pricing opportunity: 1.6% higher sales price in late May ($5,600 on typical home)
• San Jose market premium of 5.3% ($93,200) during peak period
• Outdoor TV features add $10,749 to home value
• Complete online listings earn 2% premium ($9,000+ on typical home)

Negative

• Market timing heavily dependent on volatile mortgage rates
• Significant regional variations in optimal listing timing
• Non-MLS listings result in 1.5% lower sale prices
• Orlando market shows minimal premium (0.9%) during peak period

New Zillow research identifies the best time to sell a home in the nation's largest metropolitan areas

• A Zillow analysis of 2024 home sales finds that homes listed in the second two weeks of May sold for 1.6% more. 
• The best time to list can be as early as the second half of March in San Diego and Austin, and as late as November in Phoenix.
• Homeowners can sell their home for even more by maximizing exposure, focusing on screen appeal and highlighting in-demand features.

SEATTLE, March 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Spring home sellers who listed their home for sale in the second half of May maximized their home's sale price last year. A new Zillow® analysis found that homes listed in the last two weeks of May sold for 1.6% more, a $5,600 boost on a typical U.S. home.¹  

Search activity typically peaks before Memorial Day, as shoppers get serious about house hunting before their summer vacation and the new school year in the fall. By targeting late spring, sellers can get their home listed when the most shoppers are looking. When more buyers are competing for homes, sellers can command a higher price. 

One big caveat: It's not certain that this year's spring home shopping season will follow last year's pattern. With persistently low inventory, volatile mortgage rates are creating their own seasonality in the housing market.

"In the past few years, mortgage rate fluctuations upended the traditional spring home shopping season," said Orphe Divounguy, a senior economist at Zillow. "Buyers who are on the edge of qualifying for a loan jump in and out of the market depending on what's happening with rates. When rates fall, more buyers rush in, putting upward pressure on prices, which could happen at any time of year. "   

Mortgage rates have been impacting affordability and sale prices since they began rising rapidly three years ago. In 2022, sellers nationwide saw the highest sale premium when they listed their home in late March, right before rates barreled past 5% and continued climbing. A year later, sellers commanded the highest prices in early June, as many buyers had sat out the prior months hoping that rates would go down. Last year marked a return to pre-pandemic seasonal norms, with the highest premiums commanded in May.

Zillow's research finds the best time to list can vary widely by metropolitan area. It was as early as the second half of March in San Diego and Austin, and as late as the second half of November in Phoenix. An experienced real estate agent can help sellers identify the right time to list based on inventory and demand in their local market.  

Zillow also found a wide range in the sale price premiums associated with homes listed during their metro area's peak period. San Jose sellers who listed their home for sale in the second half of March were able to pocket 5.3% more than any other time of year — an additional $93,200 on a typical Silicon Valley home. Orlando homes, however, only sold for 0.9% more during its peak period in early May. 

The reality is that most sellers don't have the luxury of being able to wait for the right week and the right month to sell. Timing aside, sellers can still take advantage of other seller strategies to reach the most potential buyers. They can net top dollar by maximizing exposure, focusing on screen appeal and highlighting in-demand features.

• More eyeballs = more money: Sellers should make sure their agent lists their home on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) right away. This puts their listing in front of millions of home shoppers, maximizing exposure. Some agents will try to persuade sellers to market their home only to buyers using agents in their brokerage. But the data clearly shows that homes that are not on the MLS sell for a median of 1.5% less, a loss of nearly $5,000 for a typical seller. 

• Flaunt the right features: Today's home buyers are willing to pay as much as 3.1% more for certain backyard luxuries. Zillow research finds that a typical U.S. home equipped with an outdoor TV can sell for $10,749 more than similar homes. If sellers also happen to have a pizza oven, outdoor shower or bluestone patio, they should highlight those features in their listing description to add thousands to their sale price. 

• Invest in screen appeal: Zillow research finds that buyers pay more for listings that have a complete, immersive online media package. Zillow Showcase listings that have high-resolution images, 3D Home® virtual tours and interactive floor plans sell for 2% more than similar homes. That's a bonus of more than $9,000 on a typical home.

Metropolitan area	Best time to list	Price premium	Dollar boost on a typical home
United States	Second half of May	1.6 %	$5,600
New York, NY	First half of May	1.4 %	$9,600
Los Angeles, CA	First half of April	3.9 %	$39,300
Chicago, IL	Second half of May	3.0 %	$10,000
Dallas, TX	First half of April	1.9 %	$7,000
Houston, TX	Second half of April	1.1 %	$3,300
Washington, DC	Second half of April	2.4 %	$14,600
Philadelphia, PA	First half of June	2.2 %	$8,100
Miami, FL	Second half of July	2.0 %	$11,500
Atlanta, GA	First half of June	1.2 %	$4,700
Boston, MA	Second half of May	2.9 %	$20,800
Phoenix, AZ	Second half of November	1.4 %	$6,400
San Francisco, CA	Second half of April	3.2 %	$38,600
Riverside, CA	Second half of June	1.5 %	$8,600
Detroit, MI	Second half of May	3.2 %	$8,000
Seattle, WA	Second half of March	3.1 %	$24,000
Minneapolis, MN	Second half of May	2.9 %	$11,100
San Diego, CA	Second half of March	2.0 %	$20,100
Tampa, FL	First half of October	1.8 %	$6,900
Denver, CO	First half of May	2.6 %	$15,500
Baltimore, MD	Second half of June	2.0 %	$7,900
St. Louis, MO	Second half of May	3.3 %	$8,300
Orlando, FL	First half of May	0.9 %	$3,700
Charlotte, NC	First half of May	1.5 %	$5,700
San Antonio, TX	First half of May	1.3 %	$3,500
Portland, OR	First half of June	2.0 %	$10,900
Sacramento, CA	First half of May	1.7 %	$9,900
Pittsburgh, PA	Second half of May	2.6 %	$5,500
Cincinnati, OH	Second half of May	2.3 %	$6,900
Austin, TX	Second half of March	2.3 %	$10,400
Las Vegas, NV	First half of May	1.6 %	$7,100
Kansas City, MO	First half of May	3.4 %	$10,400
Columbus, OH	First half of May	3.4 %	$11,100
Indianapolis, IN	First half of June	2.0 %	$5,400
Cleveland, OH	Second half of June	3.7 %	$8,600
San Jose, CA	Second half of March	5.3 %	$93,200

About Zillow Group
Zillow Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make home a reality for more and more people. As the most visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow and its affiliates help people find and get the home they want by connecting them with digital solutions, dedicated partners and agents, and easier buying, selling, financing and renting experiences. 

Zillow Group's affiliates, subsidiaries and brands include Zillow®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans℠, Trulia®, Out East®, StreetEasy®, HotPads®, ShowingTime+℠, Spruce® and Follow Up Boss®. 

All marks herein are owned by MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org). © 2023 MFTB Holdco, Inc., a Zillow affiliate.

¹ This analysis included 1.6 million transactions closed in 2024 for which complete data was available, including a listing history that could be matched to the transaction and a reliable Zestimate history. For complete methodology, please contact press@zillow.com.

 

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SOURCE Zillow Group, Inc.

FAQ

How much more do homes sell for when listed in late May according to Zillow's 2024 analysis?

Homes listed in the last two weeks of May 2024 sold for 1.6% more, equivalent to a $5,600 premium on a typical U.S. home.

What is the premium difference for Zillow (Z) listings between San Jose and Orlando during peak periods?

San Jose sellers gained 5.3% ($93,200) when listing in late March, while Orlando homes only sold for 0.9% more during early May.

How much value does an outdoor TV add to a home's selling price according to Zillow (Z)?

Zillow research shows homes with an outdoor TV can sell for $10,749 more than similar homes.

What is the impact of not listing a home on MLS according to Zillow's (Z) data?

Homes not listed on MLS sell for a median of 1.5% less, resulting in nearly $5,000 less for a typical seller.

How much extra can sellers earn using Zillow (Z) Showcase listings with complete media packages?

Zillow Showcase listings with high-resolution images, 3D tours, and interactive floor plans sell for 2% more, adding over $9,000 to a typical home's price.