The best month to sell a house to maximize returns is June. Last year, the sale price for homes nationwide in June was $440,950, which is $17,138 more than the annual average.
The best month to sell your house fast is May, because that's when homes tend to spend the least amount of time on the market. Last year, homes sold in May were on the market for an average of 52 days, which is 11 days faster than the annual average.
⚡ Want to sell fast? Get multiple cash offers from vetted local buyers, choose the best deal, and move quickly.
Should I sell my house now?
Whether you should sell your house now depends on multiple fluctuating factors and your home-selling priorities. In addition to understanding the best months to sell fast or aim for maximum returns, consider the following data.
Current market conditions in your state
Find your state from the list below to learn about your state's current market conditions and other local data that will help you determine your best time to sell.
Current mortgage interest rates
It may not be a good time to sell if interest rates are high. High interest rates generally deter buyers from entering the market.
As of December 24, 2025, 30-year fixed rate mortgages carry 6.18% interest, which is lower than rates generally seen from 1975-2000, but higher than the historical lows we saw in 2020-21.[1] In 2026, rates are projected to range between 5.9% and 6.2%.[2]
You should also consider the interest rate you have on your current mortgage. If you've locked in a much lower rate on your current mortgage, it may not make financial sense to sell your home now if you have to get a higher-interest rate on your next house.
How much equity you have in your current house
If you have 20% or more equity in your house, you’ll typically be in a strong position to sell.
With that much equity, you'll likely have a decent amount of profit when you sell, leaving you in a strong financial position for your next purchase or move.
Typically, it takes 5-10 years living in a home and paying down your mortgage to build 20% equity.
Best time to sell a house for price
The best month to sell a house for top dollar in the U.S. is June, when homes sell for an average of $347,042 (or $24,009 more than the annual average).
Historical data can help you understand when prices in the U.S. are typically at their annual high and low. While each year will have slight variations, we analyzed recent sale prices to identify trends and average prices for each month.
| Month | Average sale price[3] | Difference from average sale price |
|---|---|---|
| January | $304,396 | -$18,637 |
| February | $313,892 | -$9,141 |
| March | $323,954 | $921 |
| April | $334,770 | $11,737 |
| May | $343,442 | $20,409 |
| June | $347,042 | $24,009 |
| July | $334,922 | $11,889 |
| August | $331,503 | $8,470 |
| September | $313,396 | -$9,637 |
| October | $313,089 | -$9,944 |
| November | $311,142 | -$11,891 |
| December | $304,844 | -$18,189 |
| Annual average | $323,033 |
Best time to sell a house for speed
The fastest month to sell a house is May, when homes spend an average of 52 days on the market (DOM).
When a state has an average DOM 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 examined recent data to identify historically favorable months for quick sales.
| Month | Days on market[3] | Difference from average |
|---|---|---|
| January | 82 | 19 days slower |
| February | 75 | 12 days slower |
| March | 58 | 5 days faster |
| April | 53 | 10 days faster |
| May | 52 | 11 days faster |
| June | 52 | 11 days faster |
| July | 55 | 8 days faster |
| August | 57 | 6 days faster |
| September | 62 | 1 days faster |
| October | 64 | 1 days slower |
| November | 68 | 5 days slower |
| December | 76 | 13 days slower |
| Annual average | 63 |
Top ways to sell your house no matter the time of year
If you need to sell your home and it's not the best time of year to list for speed or price, 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. Services like Clever Offers allow you to compare multiple offers. iBuyers can also close quickly with cash, but your house needs to be in good condition to qualify.
- Save money with a low commission realtor: List with a low commission 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.
Compare offers from top cash buyers, plus get an expert realtor's opinion on what your house is worth.
Get Cash OffersFAQ
If you're after the best sales price, the best month to sell is June when houses sell for 4.00% more than average.
If your priority is speed, May is the best time to sell because homes tend to sell 11 days faster than average.
You may also want to take other factors into consideration.
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 73 days.
You may also want to take other factors into consideration.
Why trust us
Data sources
Our Research Team uses real estate data from the Clever Market Heat Index and reputable sources, such as Zillow, Realtor.com, and FreddieMac, to determine the best and worst months to sell a house. We analyze monthly trends for listing prices, housing inventory, and mortgage rates and refresh that data on our pages as the primary sources update.
About Clever Real Estate
Clever Real Estate is a free agent-matching service that has helped more than 187,000 customers. We partner with more than 18,000 top-performing agents nationwide at national brokers including Keller Williams, RE/MAX, Century 21, and more. We also help buyers save money with cash back after closing — no strings attached.
We’ve earned buyers’ trust with a rating of 4.9 out of 5 stars on Trustpilot and over 3,700 customer reviews in total.
Our team of industry-leading researchers is committed to making homeownership more accessible by educating buyers 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.
