Should I sell now? | Best time to sell: Overall | Best time to sell: Price | Best time to sell: Speed | Best time by location | Top ways to sell your Washington home
Listing your Washington home at the right time can help you find a buyer quickly and earn the highest profit.
If you have some flexibility with your sale, it's worth doing some market research and timing your sale for the best outcome possible.
Key Takeaways
In terms of price, the best month to sell a house in Washington is June. The median sale price for Washington homes in June is $680,000, which is $70,567 more than the annual average.
The best month to sell a house fast in Washington is May. Washington homes sold in May are on the market for an average of 22 days, which is 17 days faster than the annual average.
Of course, this is just a small piece of the overall picture. When you should list will depend on your situation and location. Seeking the opinion of a local real estate expert will help you determine the best time for you to sell your Washington home.
Clever Real Estate can connect you with top real estate agents in your area so you can discuss all your options. They will come up with a custom strategy to match your timeline and priorities. Plus, you'll save money on listing commissions if you sell with the agent.
Should I sell my Washington home now?
Although the market isn’t ideal, it’s best to list your house in Washington immediately if you need to do so this year. Listing prices have dropped since summer, but data shows prices won’t bottom out until winter, so you still have some time to make a decent sale. If you can wait, you'll have a more profitable sale if you list in late spring to early summer next year, as this is when the market usually picks up.
Take note, however, that local markets can vary wildly from the state’s overall trend. That’s why it’s best to work with an experienced realtor; they know your area’s trends and can advise you on when it's best to sell your home.
»Get connected with a local agent today.
The best time of year to sell a house in Washington
Determining the "right" time to sell your house is somewhat subjective; it really depends on your specific goals and circumstances. That said, if you're like most sellers — i.e., your top priorities are selling high and fast — here's when you should list your Washington house.
Best month for: | ||
|---|---|---|
Price | June | $70,567 more than average |
Speed | May | 17 days faster than average |
Best time to sell 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
Seattle | May | $91,053 | 17 |
Spokane | June | $34,507 | 23 |
Olympia | May | $33,506 | 21 |
Walla Walla | June | $120,279 | 28 |
Kennewick | January | $24,475 | 24 |
Realtor.com (August 2022) | |||
Best time to sell in Washington: Price
Median sale price | Sales premium* | |
|---|---|---|
June | $680,000 | $70,567 |
*Compared to 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 | 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 | |
Realtor.com (August 2022) | ||
Best time to sell in Washington: Speed
Days on market | Days faster | |
|---|---|---|
May | 22 | 17 |
*Compared to annual average | ||
Days on market — or DOM — is commonly defined as the number of days from when a property is listed on the MLS and when it's sold and taken off the market.
When a market has a low median DOM, that's usually an indicator of favorable conditions for sellers, i.e., a high demand among buyers. As with sale prices, we looked at data going back to 2016 to determine historically good months to sell quickly.
Month | Days on market | 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 | |
Realtor.com (August 2022) | ||
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 quickly
You can still sell quickly by reaching out to a cash buyer or, if your house qualifies, to an iBuyer.
Cash buyers can close in a matter of days year round so you don't have to wait for a buyer during the slow season. You can also request offers from multiple buyers to ensure you're getting a good deal for your home.
Save money
One of the biggest costs when selling your house is real estate agent commissions. If you need to sell when sale prices are typically lower, saving on realtor fees is often your best option for maximizing your profit.
By listing with a flat fee MLS company instead of a traditional agent, you pay a more affordable upfront fee instead of a typical listing commission. However, you'll have to complete every step of the home selling process without professional help.
Another option is working with a discount brokerage. These are often full-service agents who work for reduced commissions.
No matter the time of year, the smart choice is always to talk with a real estate professional. Clever can connect you with an agent to go over your options and develop a customized sales strategy about how and when to sell your home. The service is 100% free and there's never any obligations.
If you're after the best sales price, the best month to sell in Washington is June when houses sell for 11.58% more than average.
If your priority is speed, May is the best time to sell because homes tend to sell 17 days faster.
December 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 50 days.