The best time to sell your home in 2026 is coming up soon; here’s when

If you’re planning to sell your home, you may want to consider selling during these dates.

Realtor.com’s 2026 Best Time to Sell report used listing metrics from 2018-2019 and 2021-2025, with each week compared against a benchmark from the first full week of the year. 

Averaging across the years yielded the "typical" seasonal trend, showcasing the best week to sell — offering a "Goldilocks" balance of higher prices, strong buyer demand and a fast market pace.

Best time to sell your home in 2026

By the numbers:

The report found that April 12–18 is the best time for homeowners to sell their home. 

The report found that homes listed during this window historically reach prices 1.3% higher than the average week. In 2026, this translates to a national median listing price approximately $5,300 above the annual average and $26,000 more than the start of the year.

In addition, roughly 18.9% fewer homes see price reductions during this week compared to the annual average, as concentrated buyer activity supports firm asking prices.

In 2025, homes during this optimal week were also on the market for 50 days – 10 days faster than the year's average and three days faster than pre-pandemic 2019 levels.

More buyers expected to enter the market after mortgage rates stabalize

What they're saying:

As mortgage rates stabilized in the low-6% range in late 2025 and reached some of the lowest levels in nearly four years in early 2026, a cohort of previously sidelined buyers is expected to re-engage with the market, Realtor.com said. This rebound in demand will coincide with a seasonal thaw and is expected to peak mid-April.

"After years of being squeezed by limited inventory and high rates, the 2026 housing market is starting to feel more approachable for those who have been sidelined," Danielle Hale, the chief economist at Realtor.com, said. "For sellers, the mid-April window represents an opportunity to enter a market that feels more within reach for buyers while benefiting from a seasonal  advantage in terms of pricing and competition."

‘Best week’ still varies by market

Dig deeper:

While national data points to April 12-18 as the optimal window, the company said real estate dates still vary by market. 

Depending on the region, the ideal listing window may already be open or still weeks away.

For example, in high-demand tech and coastal markets like San Jose, Boston, and Seattle, the spring market kicks off much earlier. Savvy sellers in these metros often list in early to mid-March to get ahead of the surge. With inventory remaining tight, listing early allows sellers to capture "high-intent" buyers who have been scouring limited winter listings. 

Meanwhile, Midwest and Northeast markets such as Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, and Hartford are seeing some of the highest demand in the country due to relative affordability. Supply in these areas remains quite limited, and the "best week" tends to align more closely with the national average in mid-April.

Supply remains below 

Big picture view:

While inventory levels have grown, the national supply remains 16.8% below typical 2017–2019 levels.

According to Realtor.com, the 2026 housing market is in a delicate rebalancing phase following a 2025 season where home sales matched nearly three-decade lows.

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Seller activity climbed through 2025, and the share of outstanding mortgages above 6% surpassed those below 3%. While this thaw in inventory provides more options, the path to a balanced market remains uneven as sellers and buyers navigate interest rate volatility.

"The housing market remains undersupplied, especially in the Northeast and Midwest, meaning sellers of well-priced, move-in ready homes are likely to find success," said Hannah Jones, the senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com. "However, in the South and West where inventory is more abundant, sellers face softer conditions. In those metros, optimizing timing to this early spring window is even more critical to differentiate a property from the growing competition."