When Is the Best Time to Sell a House in Washington?

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By Jon Stubbs Updated November 1, 2024

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The best month to sell a house in Washington is June. Last year, the average listing price for Washington homes in June was $510,971, which is $41,924 more than the annual average.

The best month to sell your house fast in Washington is May, because that's when homes tend to spend the least amount of time on the market. Last year, Washington homes sold in May were on the market for an average of 32 days, which is 13 days faster than the annual average.

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Best time to sell in Washington for speed

In Washington, the fastest month to sell is May, when homes spend an average of 32 days on the market (DOM) — 13 days less than the annual average.

When a market has a low average DOM, that's usually an indicator of favorable conditions for sellers, i.e., a high demand among buyers. The annual average in Washington is 45 days on the market, compared to the national average of 63 days.

When a state average DOM is less than the national average, it indicates a seller's market in that state. Conversely, when the state average DOM exceeds the national average, it indicates a buyer's market, meaning a less desirable time to sell.

We looked at data from 2016 onward to determine historically good months to sell quickly in Washington.

Month Days on market[1] Difference from average
January 68 23 days slower
February 55 10 days slower
March 39 6 days faster
April 33 12 days faster
May 32 13 days faster
June 32 13 days faster
July 37 8 days faster
August 39 6 days faster
September 44 1 days faster
October 47 2 days slower
November 54 9 days slower
December 64 19 days slower
Annual Average 45
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Best time to sell in Washington for price

The best month to sell for top dollar in Washington is June, when homes sell for an average of $510,971 (or $41,924 more than the annual average).

Historical data can help you understand when prices in Washington are typically at their annual high and low. While each year will have slight variations, we looked at sale prices since 2016 to determine the trends and average prices for each month.

Month Average sale price[1] Difference from average
January $442,561 -$26,486
February $458,533 -$10,514
March $471,762 $2,715
April $487,795 $18,748
May $504,679 $35,632
June $510,971 $41,924
July $482,019 $12,972
August $478,067 $9,020
September $450,222 -$18,825
October $451,575 -$17,472
November $448,819 -$20,228
December $441,558 -$27,489
Annual Average $469,047
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Best time to sell in Washington by location

It's important to note that trends vary from region to region. The table below shows the most lucrative months to sell for five cities in Washington.

Location Best month to sell Typical sales premium Average days on market[1]
Seattle June 26899 21
Spokane May 32945 26
Olympia 0
Walla Walla October 18675 42
Kennewick June 19576 39
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Top ways to sell your house no matter the time of year

If you need to sell your Washington home and it's not the best time of year to list, you still have options.

  • Sell your home quickly: Sell to a cash buyer or an iBuyer. Cash buyers are best for sellers who need to sell in a matter of days without investing any money to fix up or stage the home. iBuyers can also close quickly with cash, but your house needs to be in good condition to qualify.
  • Save money with a discount realtor: List with a discount brokerage and work with full-service agents who work for reduced commissions.
  • Sell without a realtor: List with a flat fee MLS company. You'll save on listing commission, but you'll need to complete every step of the selling process yourself, making this option best for experienced sellers with extra time on their hands.
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Why trust us

Data sources

Our Research Team uses real estate data from reputable sources, such as Zillow, Realtor.com, and FreddieMac, to determine the best and worst months to sell a house in Washington. We analyze monthly trends for listing prices, housing inventory, and mortgage rates and refresh that data on our pages as the primary sources update.

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When's the best time to sell a home in Washington?

If you're after the best sales price, the best month to sell in Washington is June when houses sell for 4.10% more than average.

If your priority is speed, May is the best time to sell because homes tend to sell 13 days faster than average.

When's the worst time to sell a home in Washington?

January is the month when homes sell for the least amount of money. When it comes to a quick sale, January is the worst time to list. Homes stay on the market for an average of 69 days.

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Article Sources

[1] Realtor.com – "Realtor.com Housing Data". Updated October 1, 2024.

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Our experts continually research, evaluate, and monitor real estate companies and industry trends. We update our articles when new information becomes available.

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