If you’re a homeowner in Bergen County, NJ and thinking about selling, timing your sale can have a big impact on your bottom line. Many sellers ask, “When is the best time to list my home?” We analyzed nearly 10 years of local NJMLS data, tracking over 70,000 residential sales to find the answer.
Here’s what we found: May and June consistently offer the best combination of high prices, fast closings, and strong demand. 💰💨
Let’s break it down.
Highest Sale Prices: May and June Take the Lead 💵
Over the past decade, the average median sale price in May was $608,818, while June edged even higher to $616,872. Both months significantly outperformed winter and early spring, when prices lagged by $50,000 to $80,000 or more.
In fact, comparing January’s 10-year average of $544,123 to June’s, sellers who list in early summer see nearly a 13 percent higher median sale price. 📊
This makes sense. Buyers with school-aged children are motivated to close and move before the new school year, and competition tends to drive up offers.
Fastest Sales: May and June Again ⏱️
Days on Market (DOM) is one of the clearest signals of buyer demand. The fewer days a home sits unsold, the hotter the market.
- May DOM (10-year average): 23.7 days
- June DOM: 22.2 days
Compare that to January and February, where homes sat for 38 to 44 days on average. Sellers who list in May or June typically see faster showings, quicker offers, and fewer pricing negotiations. 🏃♂️💼
Best Sale-to-List Price Ratio: June is King 👑
The close price to list price ratio tells you how close homes sold to their asking prices. A ratio above 100 percent means buyers paid more than list price.
- June Ratio: 100.1 percent
- May Ratio: 100.0 percent
The spring-to-early summer market from April through July consistently delivers the most competitive pricing environment, with homes often selling at or above list. 🔥
What About the Winter Months? ❄️
While every situation is different, the data shows that January and February are the toughest months to sell:
- Lower prices (around $544,000 to $547,000 on average)
- Longer market times (38 to 44 days)
- Lower sale-to-list price ratios (typically 98.5 percent or below)
That said, it’s not all bad. The typical real estate script says that only highly motivated buyers are shopping during the winter holidays, and that limited inventory gives sellers a competitive edge. That is partly true. There are fewer listings and fewer casual shoppers. If your home is clean, priced right, and marketed well, you can still attract qualified buyers in the off-season. ✅
But you also need to be realistic about price and timing. The pool of buyers is smaller and the process can take longer. If you’re not in a rush, waiting until late March or April may still yield a better return. 📆
When Waiting Is Not an Option 🚨
For some homeowners, waiting for the ideal time to sell simply isn’t possible. If you’re behind on your mortgage payments, in foreclosure, managing an estate, or dealing with a distressed property, the “best” month doesn’t matter. What matters is getting ahead of the situation before it worsens. ⏳
If that’s you, I can help you understand your options. I work with both traditional buyers and vetted investors who can close quickly without repairs, inspections, or commissions. 🛠️💼
What If You Can’t Wait Until May or June? 🤷♂️
Life happens. Sometimes you need to move due to a job, divorce, inheritance, or other unexpected situation. Here’s how I help sellers in every season:
- Winter sellers: Professional staging, investor marketing, and flexible pricing strategies 🧤
- Spring sellers: Strategic pre-listing prep, pre-market exposure, and negotiation prep 🌸
- Summer sellers: Listing before the 4th of July tends to beat the August slowdown ☀️
- Fall sellers: Serious buyer targeting, open house optimization, and estate sale coordination 🍂
Whether you’re selling a family home, inherited property, or a fixer-upper, we have a plan tailored to the season and your specific needs. 🏘️
Local Experience. Seasonal Strategy. Smarter Sales. 🧠
At New Jersey House Partners, I specialize in helping Bergen County homeowners sell smarter. That means timing the market right when possible, and making smart adjustments when you can’t. 🧭
Want to know what your home could sell for today? I’ll run a free, no-pressure value report. And if your situation involves repairs, tenants, or estate complications, I can give you both full-market and as-is cash offer options. 📞
📊 Thinking of Selling This Year?
Let’s talk strategy. Even if you’re just exploring your options, I’m happy to run the numbers and share what buyers are paying in your neighborhood. 🏡💬
Call or text me at 201-214-1349 or visit NJHousePartners.com to get started. 🌐
