Is Fall a Good Time to Sell a House?
Fall is here and we are all getting ready to enjoy the warm soups and cold evenings. Many speculators believe that fall is not a good season to sell a home. It’s too close to Winter and the holidays, and there just aren’t enough buyers out there in the market. If you’re considering selling in the Fall, you might just be experiencing FOMO from not listing during the Summer. Or maybe you couldn’t sell in the summer, and can’t wait until next Spring to sell. This article will go over whether or not Fall is a good time to sell your home, especially in the San Gabriel Valley!
San Gabriel Valley Housing Market
The San Gabriel Valley is often seen as a highly competitive suburban housing market in LA. It is known for it’s Chinese influence and food diversity. For most of the SGV, demand is so high that most homes have no issues selling at or above market value. However in the past 12 months we have seen massive drops in home prices, especially for condo and townhouses. By no means is the SGV a buyer’s market just yet, but seasonality and marketing of homes is more important than ever when trying to get at or above market value.
Selling in the Fall
Why it's possibly good for you...
The myth that Fall is not a good time to sell stems from the idea that Summer & Spring are the only ideal times to sell.
Fall is the season where buyers start to develop FOMO, or fear of missing out. Families who tried to buy into a school district that just couldn’t close on any homes are left in despair by the time Fall comes around. They are the perfect buyers that would rather pay full price on a home than to lose out on the opportunity to give their children a better schooling. Typically sellers try to build urgency on their home by creating bidding wars and offer deadlines… However most sellers in the Fall are dealing with buyers who already have a strong sense of urgency, making negotiations that much easier.
The chances of getting full asking price or very favorable terms is high in the Fall. Not only that, most sellers don’t actually think about selling in the Fall. This ‘myth’ of the Fall season not being a good time to sell actually reduces your competition and increases your chances of selling.
To sum it all up, you not only gain additional leverage by selling in the fall, you are also selling during a time where competition is low, and buyers are desperate.
Why it's possibly bad for you...
The reasoning behind this is simple, it is almost the Holiday season… Many families are planning vacations, spending time off, and generally are just trying to relax. Not to mention that buyers who searched all throughout Summer are probably feeling burnt out and wanting a break.
This is the majority of buyers, however as mentioned in the previous paragraph, the buyers that are still motivated to search and close on a home are the best type of buyers a seller could ask for.
That’s who you are hoping to meet when you list your home during the Fall, and most of the time they are out there. You just have to do your part, present the home as best as you can, and a desperate family will be glad to have given you an offer.
FAQs
What is the worst month to sell a house?
Technically the worst month to sell a house, no matter what city you live in or what market you are currently in, is December. It’s the start of winter, you’re in the middle of the holiday season, there are a small amount of buyers that are still looking at homes during this time. It’s typically best to just wait until Jan or Feb to put your home onto the market. Most sellers during this time only sell because they were listed in contract before or they absolutely need to sell asap.
What is the best month to sell a house?
The best month to sell a home is May. The month right before Summer, this is the time where most buyers are looking to get into a home before summer break starts and looking for school districts. There are plenty of buyers during this month, so getting offers on your home should be easier than ever.
Should I sell my house now or wait 2025?
If your plans are to sell your home and buy, then selling now makes the most sense. Prices will generally always be the same however rates are in a good position and currently it’s not hard to sell in this market. If you are planning to sell and retire and looking to rent afterwards then waiting until Spring to sell might be your best option.
📍 Final Thoughts from a Local Realtor
Everybody thinks that just because I am a realtor, I’m going to say every month is a good month to sell… but the truth is not all seasons are creating equally.
Winter is still considered the worst possible season to sell, and Spring is the best, however I don’t necessarily think that Fall is all that bad.
With the right marketing, presentation, and urgency, your home can very well sell easily during Fall, and even above your original asking price!
So yes, to answer the question, Fall is actually a very good time to sell a home, especially in the SGV!
Have questions about specific neighborhoods, I’d love to help.
