The average time to sell a house in the United States is 95 days, which accounts for 60 days on the market and 35 days to close the offer with a buyer.
The amount of time it takes to sell a house varies depending on the method you choose, the condition of your home, your agent, where you're located, and many other factors. In a recent home selling study, 25% of recent home sellers worry that their next home won’t sell quickly enough.
Fortunately, if you're looking for a quick and easy sale, there are ways you can speed up the selling process — or even offload that property immediately if you like.
⚡ Need to sell fast? Sell your house on the open market in just one week with our 7-Day-Sold program.
Pick your state from the list below to learn how long it takes to sell a house in your area.
Average time to sell a house in the United States
🔎 Key takeaways: How long it takes to sell a house
- ⏰ Average time to sell: 95 days[1]
- 🗓 Average days on market: 60 days
- ✅ Average time to close offer: 35 days
- 💵 Median sale price: $468,559[2]
In the United States, it takes an average of 95 days to sell a house.
On average, homes in the United States sit on the market for 60 days, and it typically takes 35 days to close once an offer has been accepted.
Keep in mind that these numbers only account for the time a home was actively listed on the market. They don't include the time it takes to find the right real estate agent, clean and stage your home, take the photos for your listing, and all the other prep work that comes along with selling a house. Ultimately, these tasks can add days, weeks — even months — to the total timeline.
Don’t want to wait 95 days to sell your home?
Partner with a vetted, local real estate agent who can list your home on the MLS and sell it within 7 days. You can also choose to sell your house as is, meaning you don’t have to spend time on repairs before listing it on the open market.
The best cash home buyer companies nationwide
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✨ Our Pick
Clever Offers
Offers Marketplace⚡ Get Cash OffersBest for: Most home sellers. Compare all cash offers and options in one place.
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We Buy Houses
Cash InvestorLearn MoreBest for: People with fixer-uppers or hard-to-sell homes who need to sell fast.
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Homeward
iBuyerRequest OfferBest for: People with homes in good condition who need to sell fast.
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Knock
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 AuctionRequest OfferBest for: People with homes that need major repairs who have a few weeks or more to sell.
» MORE: Compare all nationwide cash home buyer companies.
The best time to sell a house
In a recent study, 26% of upcoming home sellers expect that timing the real estate market will be a significant challenge while selling their next home. To help with this difficulty, we’ve researched the best and worst times to sell a 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?
Keep in mind that these trends can vary greatly by state, so it’s important to check with your real estate agent for local data insights.
The best month to sell your house fast
The best month to sell a house fast in the United States is April. In April, houses stay on the market for an average of 50 days, which is 9 faster than the annual average.[1]
| Month | Days on market | |
| 🟢 Best month | April | 50 days |
| 🔴 Worst month | January | 73 days |
The best month to sell a house for listing price
In the United States, the best month to sell your house for the highest price is June. In June, the average sale price is $440,950, which is 4.00% — or $16,940 — more than the annual average.[1]
| Month | Average price | |
| 🟢 Best month | June | $440,950 |
| 🔴 Worst month | January | $400,500 |
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.
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 95 days. (In our recent home selling study, 40% of recent home sellers believe that using a traditional agent is the fastest way to sell a house.)
If you’re selling your house to a cash home buyer, you can expect to close in as little as 7-14 days. (38% believe that selling to a cash home buyer is the fastest way to sell a house.)
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. (55% believe that selling FSBO is the slowest way to sell a house.)
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.
The listing price of your house plays a crucial role in determining how quickly it will sell. In a recent study, 49% of surveyed real estate agents believe that listing price has the most significant effect on selling timelines.
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, consider working with a cash home buyer. These companies usually don’t require sellers to make 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. In a recent study, 31% of upcoming home sellers believe that the house’s location significantly impacts the speed of the sale.
If your home is in a less desirable location, consider updating parts of it to increase its appeal 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.
What's the fastest way to sell a house?
There are several routes you can take to sell a house fast:
- Sell to a cash home buyer.
- Sell to an iBuyer.
- Sell with an experienced full-service real estate agent.
Sell to a cash home buyer
Cash home buyers, often called "we buy houses" companies, offer a streamlined selling process for homeowners who need to sell as quickly as possible. These companies are typically real estate investors or investment groups that purchase properties directly from sellers.
Timeline: 7-14 days from initial contact to closing
What to expect: When selling to a cash buyer, you can skip the typical home-selling preparation since they'll purchase your home as-is without repairs, staging, or multiple showings. Typically, you’ll just need a quick assessment and minimal paperwork to close the deal.
Financial considerations: While you'll receive a lower price (typically 60-85% of market value) when selling to a cash buyer, you'll avoid all the usual selling costs like agent commissions, repairs, and possibly closing fees, with payment delivered by wire transfer.
Sell to an iBuyer
iBuyers, such as Opendoor and Offerpad, are tech-driven companies that use algorithms and market data to make instant offers on homes. This option combines the speed of cash buyers with potentially better pricing. However, iBuyer typically only purchase homes that are in good condition.
Timeline: Flexible timeline (as little as 10 days, up to 90 days)
What to expect: iBuyers offer a streamlined, tech-driven process where you'll receive an instant offer based on an automated valuation, followed by a professional inspection. Unlike cash buyers, they may reject homes with significant damage or require repairs before purchase.
Financial considerations: iBuyers typically offer more than cash buyers at 85-95% of market value, but you'll need to account for their service fees (5-7% of the price) and any repair costs they deduct from the final offer.
Sell with an experienced local agent
Working with a top-performing real estate agent who specializes in quick sales can significantly speed up the traditional selling process while maximizing the sale price.
Timeline: Varies, depending on agent experience and market conditions.
What to expect: A full-service real estate agent manages the entire selling process, from professional marketing and strategic pricing to showing coordination and negotiations. They handle all the details while working to sell the house fast while getting you the best possible price.
Financial considerations: Though you'll pay agent real estate commissions (5-6%) and closing costs, selling with an agent typically yields the highest net proceeds.
Home sellers who list with Clever get their first qualified offer in an average of 24.1 days — that’s 36 days faster than the average time to receive an offer in the United States.
⭐ Match with top-rated agents in your area who offer a discounted 1.5% listing fee.
Tips to sell your home fast
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 local 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 to determine a fair listing price.
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.
Frequently asked questions
In the United States, it takes an average of 95 days to sell a house once it’s on the open market.
On average, it takes around 35 days to sell a house after an offer has been accepted.
Closing timelines can vary. If the buyer is paying in cash, you can expect the closing to go much quicker since the buyer doesn’t need to secure financing.
According to historical data, the slowest month to sell a house in the United States is January. In this month, houses stay on the market for an average of 73 days.
Not getting any offers? You can lower your asking price, try staging the home or taking new listing photos, or consider choosing a new real estate agent to represent you.
If selling fast is your top priority, consider selling to a cash home buyer or iBuyer.
Selling to a cash home buyer or iBuyer is often the quickest way to sell a house, taking as little as 7-14 days.
Why trust us
Data sources
Our Research Team analyzes yearly real estate data from trusted sources like Realtor.com and Redfin to determine how long it takes to sell a house. 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 3,300 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.
