The average time to sell a house in Alabama is 100 days, which accounts for 65 days on the market and 35 days to close the offer with a buyer.
Key factors that impact home sale timelines include Alabama real estate market conditions (e.g., buyer demand, job market, rising home values, etc.), time of year, and your property’s type and condition. Your real estate agent’s listing strategy and the buyer’s financing situation also influence how long your sale ultimately takes.
In this guide, we’ll discuss how long it takes to sell a house in Alabama, the best months for selling your house, and give you some pro tips on how to speed up your sale and save thousands in the process.
⚡Need to sell fast? Compare cash offers from vetted companies.
How long it takes to sell a house in Alabama
🔎 Key takeaways: Average time to sell in Alabama
- ⏰ Average time to sell: 100 days[1]
- 🗓 Average days on market: 65 days
- ✅ Average time to close offer: 35 days
- 💵 Median sale price: $284,000[2]
In Alabama, it takes an average of 100 days to sell a house. That’s 7.5% slower than than the national average of 93 days.
On average, homes in Alabama sit on the market for 65 days, and it typically takes 35 days to close once an offer has been accepted.
Keep in mind that the housing market is constantly changing — these are annual averages, and the actual time to sell can vary by season (or even months). Take a look at historical averages to see how the market has fluctuated over the past 3 years.
If you need to sell your house fast in Alabama, we recommend working with a reputable cash home buyer. A top Alabama cash buyer company can buy your home quickly, often closing within two weeks or less, but you’ll likely receive less than market value on your home.
⏰ Don’t want to wait 100 days to sell your home?
Selling with a cash home buyer is the quickest way to sell your home, but why get just one offer when you could compare multiple offers and select the best one?
Use our free tool to compare cash offers from multiple vetted cash home buyers in your zip code. Just tell us about your property, and we’ll request offers on your behalf from trustworthy local companies.
You'll also get a free home valuation, so you can see what your house is worth on the open market and be confident you're making the right decision. You can request cash offers without any risk or obligation — if you're not happy with an offer, you're free to walk away.
The best time to sell a house in Alabama
It’s better to sell your house in some months than others, depending on the housing market. We’ve researched the best and worst times to sell your Alabama house based on what’s most important to you:
- Fastest time to sell: When should you list your home if you’re looking to sell quickly?
- Highest sale price: What month should you list in to get the best possible price for your home?
The best month to sell a house fast in Alabama
The best month to sell a house fast in Alabama is May. In May, houses stay on the market for an average of 52 days, which is 9 days faster than the annual average.[1]
Month | Days on market | |
🟢 Best month | May | 52 days |
🔴 Worst month | January | 77 days |
The best month to sell a house for price in Alabama
In Alabama, the best month to sell your house for the highest price is May. In May, the median sale price is $340,528, which is 3.40% - or $11,240 - more than the annual average.[1]
Month | Median sale price | |
🟢 Best month | May | $340,528 |
🔴 Worst month | January | $319,800 |
What impacts the speed of a home sale?
There are several factors that impact the speed of a home sale — some that are out of your hands and others that you can control.
Current real estate market conditions
Housing supply and buyer demand greatly impact how fast your home will sell.
In a seller's market, there are more buyers than available homes, leading to increased competition and faster sales.
In a buyer's market, there's an abundance of homes for sale compared to the number of buyers, resulting in longer selling times.
Days on the market (DOM)
If homes in your neighborhood are selling quickly, with a low average DOM, it suggests a strong demand and a favorable market for sellers. This can give you confidence that your house may also sell relatively fast if priced and marketed appropriately.
However, if houses in your area are lingering on the market for an extended period, it may indicate a slower market or potential issues with pricing or property conditions.
The house’s listing price
The listing price of your house plays a crucial role in determining how quickly it will sell. Setting a price that's lower than the average for comparable homes in your area can attract more buyers and potentially lead to a faster sale.
On the other hand, pricing your home higher than the market average may result in fewer interested buyers and a longer time on the market.
The house’s condition
A well-maintained home that has been recently repaired or renovated is more likely to attract buyers and sell faster than a property that requires significant updates or repairs.
Buyers often prefer move-in ready homes that don't require immediate investments of time and money. By addressing any necessary repairs, updating outdated features, and ensuring your home is in pristine condition before listing, you can improve its appeal and reduce the time it takes to find a buyer.
If you need to sell your house as-is, consider working with a cash home buyer, as these companies usually don’t require repairs.
The house’s location
Homes situated in desirable locations (near top-rated schools, with easy access to amenities, or in areas with a high quality of life) tend to sell faster than those in less sought-after neighborhoods.
If your home is in a less desirable location, consider updating parts of your house to add more appeal and benefit to the buyer.
Marketing and listing exposure
Your real estate agent should ensure that your home is listed on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), popular real estate websites, and social media platforms to maximize its visibility to a wide audience.
High-quality photos, virtual tours, and engaging listing descriptions can capture buyers' attention and encourage them to schedule viewings. Additionally, hosting open houses and targeted marketing campaigns can further increase exposure and attract serious buyers.
Without a strategic marketing plan, your home may take much longer to sell – simply because buyers aren’t finding it online.
Tips to get your Alabama home sold
1. Price your home competitively 💵
You might be tempted to price your home above its market value, but this strategy can lead to your house staying on the market longer than average, eventually resulting in a lower closing price.
We recommend working with an experienced Alabama real estate agent who can provide a comparative market analysis (CMA) to help you determine a competitive and realistic listing price. Your agent will compare the home to similar houses that were recently sold in order to figure out a fair listing price.
🔎 At a glance: Alabama home values and prices
City | Typical home value[3] | Median listing price[1] |
Birmingham | $249,614 | $299,947 |
Dothan | $182,364 | $272,150 |
Decatur | $225,130 | $287,500 |
Huntsville | $304,778 | $366,508 |
Mobile | $190,320 | $270,000 |
2. Stage your home 🏠
When you stage your home, you give buyers a feeling of what living there might actually be like. While you can get creative with your staging, there are a couple of ground rules you need to follow: remove any personal items and keep your house clean.
Having personal belongings on display can make it more difficult for potential buyers to imagine themselves living in your home. Similarly, taking a tour of a messy or dirty house will not leave the buyer with a positive impression.
If you want to go all out, hire an interior designer who will advise you on how to organize your furniture in an appealing way. You can also ask your real estate agent for staging advice to help spruce up the interior of your home.
3. Take professional photos 📸
When buyers look through their local real estate listings, the first thing they’ll see are the pictures of your home. Make the most of that opportunity by using professional photos in the listing that highlight the best features of your property.
Hiring a professional photographer is a great way to ensure your listing makes the best possible first impression. A photographer will know how to take photos that accent your home’s selling features, while hiding its less desirable ones.
4. Make low-cost, high-value improvements 🛠
Focus on high-impact, budget-friendly home repairs that address common buyer concerns. Fresh paint in neutral colors, both inside and out, offers excellent value and can transform the look of your home. Updating fixtures like doorknobs, cabinet handles, and light fixtures is an inexpensive way to modernize spaces.
Minor kitchen and bathroom refreshes, such as re-grouting tiles or replacing outdated faucets, can make these crucial areas more attractive.
5. Generate curb appeal 🌳
Don't overlook the importance of a well-maintained exterior — power washing, landscaping touch-ups, and a freshly painted front door can create a strong first impression.
These curb appeal improvements not only make your home more appealing but also signal to buyers that the property has been well-cared for, potentially leading to a quicker sale.
Next steps for Alabama home sellers
If you’re looking to sell your home fast in Alabama and get a great price, Clever Real Estate can match you with a top local realtor from a trusted brand like Keller Williams or RE/MAX.
Home sellers who list with Clever get their first qualified offer in an average of 24.1 days — that’s 37 days faster than the average time to offer in Alabama. Clever also negotiates reduced 1.5% listing fees on your behalf. You'll get guaranteed full service and support from your agent, but pay half of the 3% listing fee most realtors charge.
Find a top local agent and get a 1.5% listing fee now!
Want to find a top local agent without overpaying on realtor fees? Clever negotiates 1.5% listing fees with top-rated realtors from name-brand conventional brokerages like Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Berkshire Hathaway.
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Why trust us
Data sources
Our Research Team analyzes yearly real estate data from trusted sources like Zillow, Realtor.com, and Redfin to determine the average home selling time in Alabama. We compare data across years to identify market trends and changes. We regularly update our information to reflect the latest data from these sources.
About Clever Real Estate
Clever Real Estate has helped more than 82,000 people buy and sell homes. We partner with over 3,800 top-performing agents nationwide at national brokers including Keller Williams, RE/MAX, Century 21, and more. Our free agent-matching tool connects sellers with agents who have agreed to work for a 1.5% commission rate, while Clever Offers lets sellers compare cash offers on their home at no charge.
We’ve earned sellers’ trust with a rating of 5 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot and over 3,000 customer reviews in total.
Our team of industry-leading researchers is committed to making the home selling process more accessible by educating sellers through guides like this one. We've spent thousands of hours analyzing publicly available data, surveying consumers, and interviewing industry experts. Our research has been featured in The New York Times, Business Insider, Inman, Housing Wire, and many more.