When Is the Best Time to Sell a House in Washington State?
Timing your home sale right can help you sell faster and for more money. Here’s the best time to sell a house in Washington State.
The real estate market in Washington State varies greatly by region — it might as well be multiple states. Whether you’re selling your home in Tacoma, Seattle, Spokane, or anywhere in between, your experience will depend on your location. The divided market can lead to different answers to the question: When is the best time to sell a home in Washington?
This article will help you demystify the factors that affect your sales experience and determine the best time of year to list your property. We will help you understand the months that may be optimal for preparing, staging, listing, and selling your home for its highest possible list price and in the quickest time to close.
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When is the best time to sell a house in Washington?
In a state that sees all four seasons, home sales inevitably slow down in the fall. This is reflected by much of the data throughout the state and backed by the professional experience of HomeLight network agent Matthew Harber, managing broker of The Harber Home Group with Keller Williams Realty Tacoma.
November “always seems like the slowest month of the year,” he observes, pointing to weather changes. “There’s a lot more rain, [and] it’s darker,” Harber notes and adds that the Thanksgiving holiday is traditionally a “dead week” in the local housing market.
Homes don’t close quickly in Washington at this time of year, as the data illustrate. Inventory moves at higher prices and higher speeds during warmer months.
“May is the time to list your house,” Harber says of the Tacoma market. Whether listing in the spring or summer, warmer temperatures are tied to speedier and higher-priced sales throughout the state. Local nuances vary by city, so check your hometown in our free online Best Time To Sell Calculator.
Let’s examine the data from larger and smaller cities across the state. Whether you are looking to sell your home fast or for a higher-than-average price, the statistics can be a good starting point when considering how (and when) to price your Washington State property.
5 large cities in Washington
| City name | Population | Best time to list for higher price | Best time to list to sell fast |
| Seattle | 759,915 | April (3.4% more) | March (8 days sooner) |
| Spokane | 229,527 | March (8.31% more) | July (12 days sooner) |
| Tacoma | 223,968 | March (5.24% more) | March (10 days sooner) |
| Vancouver | 198,163 | April (4.24% more) | July (8 days sooner) |
| Bellevue | 151,505 | March (4.41% more) | April (9 days sooner) |
5 mid-sized cities in Washington
| City name | Population | Best time to list for higher price | Best time to list to sell fast |
| Kent | 132,306 | March (3.95% more) | March (10 days sooner) |
| Everett | 111,275 | March (6.04% more) | March (8 days sooner) |
| Spokane Valley | 109,803 | March (9.65% more) | June (17 days sooner) |
| Kirkland | 90,679 | March (2.91% more) | March (10 days sooner) |
| Renton | 103,748 | May (4.39% more) | March (8 days sooner) |
5 smaller cities or towns in Washington
| City name | Population | Best time to list for higher price | Best time to list to sell fast |
| Redmond | 82,588 | May (7.9% more) | March (12 days sooner) |
| Sammamish | 64,340 | August (3.95% more) | March (17 days sooner) |
| Shoreline | 62,199 | April (4.7% more) | March (10 days sooner) |
| Olympia | 55,774 | May (5.47% more) | March (9 days sooner) |
| Lynnwood | 45,640 | January (3.81% more) | March (9 days sooner) |
Based on historical home sales data, 2014-2024
