The average time to sell a house in Seattle is 97 days, which accounts for 62 days on the market and 35 days to close the offer with a buyer.[1]
Key factors that impact home sale timelines include Washington 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 Seattle, the best months to sell your house, and some pro tips on how to speed up your sale while saving thousands in the process.
⚡ Need to sell fast? Sell your house on the open market in just one week with our 7-Day-Sold program.
How long does it take to sell a house in Seattle?
🔎 Key takeaways: Average time to sell in Seattle
- ⏰ Average time to sell: 97 days[1]
- 🗓 Average days on market: 62 days
- ✅ Average time to close offer: 35 days
In Seattle, it takes an average of 97 days to sell a house. That’s 10.2% faster than than the national average of 108 days.
On average, homes in Seattle sit on the market for 62 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.
Don’t want to wait 97 days to sell your home?
Partner with a vetted, local real estate agent in Seattle who can list your home on the MLS and sell it within 7 days. You can also choose to sell your house as is in Seattle, meaning you don’t have to spend time on repairs before listing it on the open market.
The best cash home buyers in Seattle
One of the fastest ways to sell your home in Seattle is by selling to a cash home buyer. These buyers are often investors who pay for homes in cash and don’t require sellers to make repairs. However, you’ll likely make less than market value for your home.
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✨ Best Overall
Clever Offers
Offers Marketplace⚡ Get Cash OffersBest for: Most home sellers. Compare all cash offers and options in one place.
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Home Cash Offer Pros
Cash InvestorLearn MoreBest for: People with fixer-uppers or hard-to-sell homes who need to sell fast.
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Homeward
iBuyerLearn MoreBest for: People with homes in good condition who need to sell fast.
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Homeward
Bridge LoanLearn MoreBest for: People with lots of equity tied up in their current home who need to move now.
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Xome
Online AuctionLearn MoreBest for: People with homes that need major repairs who have a few weeks or more to sell.
» MORE: Compare all cash home buyer companies in Seattle.
The best time to sell a house in Seattle
It’s better to sell your house in some months than others, depending on the Seattle housing market. We’ve researched the best and worst times to sell a house in Seattle 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 Seattle
The best month to sell a house fast in Seattle is May. In May, houses stay on the market for an average of 25 days, which is 15 days faster than the annual average.[1]
| Month | Days on market | |
| 🟢 Best month | May | 25 days |
| 🔴 Worst month | December | 63 days |
The best month to sell a house for price in Seattle
In Seattle, the best month to sell your house for the highest price is June. In June, the median sale price is $788,000, which is 3.40% - or $25,711 - more than the annual average.[1]
| Month | Average price | |
| 🟢 Best month | June | $788,000 |
| 🔴 Worst month | December | $724,000 |
What impacts the speed of a home sale?
There are several factors that impact the speed of a home sale in Seattle — some that are out of your hands and others that you can control.
If you’re selling your house with the help of a real estate agent or discount realtor, you can expect the home sale to take around 97 days.
If you’re selling your house to a cash home buyer, you can expect to close in as little as 7-14 days.
If you’re selling your house without a realtor by using a flat fee MLS service, the timeline can be extremely variable, based on your experience level and the local real estate market.
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.
According to Zillow’s market heat index, Seattle is currently experiencing a strong seller's market.[2]
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.
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.
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 in Seattle, consider working with a cash home buyer, as these companies usually don’t require repairs.
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.
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 sell your Seattle home fast
1. Price your Seattle 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 Seattle 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.
⭐ Home sellers who list with Clever get their first qualified offer in an average of 24.1 days — that’s 38 days faster than the average time to receive an offer in Seattle. Match with top-rated agents in your area who offer a discounted 1.5% listing fee.
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 won't 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 real estate 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.
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 time to sell a house in seattle_wa. 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 5-out-of-5-star rating on Trustpilot and over 3,300 customer reviews.
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.
