Historically, no. But Seattle’s squeezed inventory and raging affordability crisis make it a peculiar market. The median home sale price in Seattle is $815,000 which decreased by 4.1% compared to 2022.
In fact, home prices have been rising in several metros across the Emerald City since late summer. Prices rose 45.7% in North Creek. East Hill-Meridian and Birch Bay saw a 20 % rise. The rising trend can get you more money which makes now the best time to sell your house in Washington.
SEATTLE SELLERS – PEAK TIMING, MAX PROFITS! 📌
- Prices are rising 📈: Median list prices are approaching $320K with signs of steady growth.
- Now’s the time 🕰️: Homes are selling in just over 30 days — much faster than in spring.
- Thursday is best 📅: Thursday evening listings tend to perform best with weekend buyers.
- Summer closes strong 🌼: July and August bring stronger offers and quicker sales across the city.
- Mortgage rates in focus 💸: With current rates holding, buyers are acting fast — a great time to list.
Which is the Best Month to Sell a House in Seattle, WA?
The best month to sell your house depends on your goals as a home seller. There is a best month to sell and earn higher net proceeds. While there is a best month to sell your home fast.
Best Month to Sell Your House by Price
As per our research, May is the best month to sell your house in Seattle. The median sale price of houses in May 2022, was $893,600 which is $59,000 above the median selling price.
Moreover, the sale-to-list price ratio was above 108% for nearly 62% of homes in Seattle.
Homes listed in Seattle between February and July spend the lowest days on the market. However, home prices in metro cities like North Creek, Union Hill-Novelty Hill, Blaine-Birch Bay, etc. are found to increase throughout the year.
» Home Value Calculator: You can find your property’s current FMV in a few seconds and list the home accordingly.
Best Month to Sell Your House by Speed
May 2022 is the best month to get a higher price for your property. Homes sit unsold for fewer days on the market between February and July.
Seattle homes sold in May 2022 spend an average time of 6 days on the market, which is 7 days faster than the annual average.
Properties spending fewer days on the market is considered an indicator of a seller’s market. Of all, this is just a small portion of the overall picture. When should you sell also depends on the situation and location of your property.
Best Day of the Week to List a House For Sale in Seattle, WA
Thursday is the best day to list houses on sale in Seattle. 21% of homes across the nation are listed on Thursday. Zillow’s data shows homes listed on Thursday get better exposure compared to homes listed on any other day.
People searching for houses plan their home tours on the weekends. So the pre-weekend listings are fresh in their minds. It makes sense to avoid listing your house at the start of the week. These homes had to stay for longer on the market.
To take advantage of the time game, consider listing your home on Thursday after 5 p.m. This is the time when most buyers and sellers return from work and start looking online.
There’s a good chance that buyers may see your brand-new listing.
Which is the Best Season to Sell a House in Seattle?
Spring is the housing season of the year. As the weather warms more serious buyers start hunting and touring homes.
Moreover, families with school kids look forward to settle in their new homes during summer vacations. This increases the competition which benefits the sellers to sell at higher costs.
But in regions like Seattle, summer still holds an opportunity. The maximum number of homes for sale in WA in spring have already been sold by this time. This reduces the competition in summer for home sellers.
Longer days in summer provide more exposure to your condos and townhouses in the Emerald City. This enables longer showing time, to fulfill the high curb appeal of buyers.
However, by Fall you can come across more serious buyers looking to relocate due to job transfers. Such buyers are usually eager and have a strict home-buying timeline.
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When is the Best Time of the Year to Sell a House in Seattle, WA?
When selling your property timing is everything. Seattle has a dynamic real estate market. It can be challenging to sell your house in the current economic situation.
March up to June are considered the home-selling months. You can sell faster and earn higher sale proceeds during this time of the year.
| Month | Average Home Sale Price | Houses Sold | Days on Market |
| January | $730,000 | 639 | 19 |
| February | $779,950 | 756 | 6 |
| March | $889,000 | 1,144 | 6 |
| April | $881,000 | 1,167 | 6 |
| May | $893,600 | 1,188 | 6 |
| June | $875,000 | 1,135 | 6 |
| July | $860,000 | 877 | 7 |
| August | $845,000 | 898 | 14 |
| September | $819,950 | 814 | 17 |
| October | $850,000 | 689 | 13 |
| November | $816,250 | 590 | 22 |
| December | $775,000 | 515 | 31 |
Tips for Selling in a Seller’s Market
A seller’s market typically has less number of properties available for sale than the number of buyers. In this type of market, sellers can create a bidding war for their homes.
- Plan to Move Out Fast: In a seller’s market, homebuyers will be open to make cash offers fast. This means you should be moving out in a few weeks after closing the deal.
- Have a Plan If the Appraisal Fails: In mortgage financing, the home appraisal value may come lower than your asking price. So you can lower your price to match the appraisal cost, reject the offer, or ask the buyer to pay the difference.
» Washington Home Appraisal: Find out how much does home appraisal costs in Washington.
Tips for Selling in a Buyer’s Market
Buyer’s market is typically when the number of houses for sale is more than homebuyers. This gives homebuyers an opportunity to demand lower prices of houses or ask for discounts on other costs.
- Offer Seller Concessions: You can offer seller concessions in several ways. You can cover a part of the buyer’s closing costs, mortgage closing costs, or accommodate repairs.
- Pay for Repair Costs: In a market with fewer buyers, you need to keep your house in good condition to attract a better deal. You should be prepared to pay for the repair costs in case the home inspection fails.
» Washington Home Inspection: Know what home inspectors look for in an inspection.
When Should You Sell Your Seattle House?
At times selling a house is a personal thing. Here’s when you can consider selling your home:
When You Need a Change in Life
Sometimes there are situations that demand a change in your life such as:
- Job-Relocation: Say, you have received an appealing job offer, but it demands relocation. A situation like this can force you to sell your house in a slow market.
- Favorable Neighborhood: You may need a safe neighborhood for your family or a house closer to your kids’ school.
- Divorce: Homes often hold a sentimental value for couples. But after a divorce, you may think of selling it as a practical option.
When Market Conditions Are in Your Favor
Favorable market conditions can get a top-dollar rate. Some factors that affect the real estate market are:
- Economy: Economic indicators like manufacturing activity, GDP, employment data, costs of goods, etc. influence the market. When the national economy is slow, so is the real estate market.
- Interest Rates: Lower interest rates boost the demand for mortgages. This affects the real estate sector, thus, increasing the price of the homes.
- Government Policies: Implementing tax credits, subsidies, and deductions are some of the ways the government can temporarily impact the housing market.
When You Are Financially Prepared
Here are a few factors to know if you are financially ready:
- Low Affordability: The average mortgage rate of 7.32% affects the affordability of buyers. Since 2022, the central bank hiked the interest rates 11th time by a quarter point. The interest rates are anticipated to increase even further.
- Downgrade Your Expenses: If you are looking to save on your property taxes, homeowners insurance, and HOA fees. You can sell your bigger house and move into a smaller one.
- Equity for New House: When your current home has procured enough equity to fulfill a healthy down payment, you can sell your house as is in Seattle.
» Cost to Sell a House: Get an estimate of the costs involved in selling your home.
Is Now a Good Time to Sell a House in Seattle, WA?
Yes, this is the right time to list your Seattle home to sell. Spring will be here soon, and the forthcoming summer season will mark an excellent time for home sellers.
If you want to sell your house in Seattle quickly and for higher profits, list it on the MLS. Houses listed on the MLS sell for 17.5% more than those off the MLS.
Houzeo can get your home listed on the MLS for a flat fee. Your listing gets syndicated to hundreds of real estate websites and online databases. Additionally, with Houzeo, you can sell FSBO and save up to 3% on agent commissions.
Eager to Know how Houzeo Works?
Houzeo is the #1 For Sale By Owner website in Washington. It helps you list your house within 24 hours, unlike traditional brokers, who take 20 days to list your property.
Check out our exclusive video that explains everything you need to know about the platform.
» NEED MORE CLARITY? Read these exclusive Houzeo reviews and learn why it is the best FSBO site in the US.
