This Was the Best Time to List a House Last Year

Late spring can bring higher temperatures—and higher home prices.

Homes listed in late May last year sold for 1.6% more than usual, according to a recent Zillow analysis that compared transaction prices to company home value estimates. That meant about a $5,600 boost to the price of a typical U.S. home, Zillow said.

Shoppers tend to get serious about house hunting before summer vacation and the fall start of a new school year, so targeting late spring can help sellers get homes listed when the most people are looking, Zillow said.

Housing-price performance at different times of year are affected by location and a range of other factors—depending on the specific market, Zillow said. Last year in San Jose, Calif., the biggest premiums came in early March, for example, topping 5%

But while the best time to sell can range from March to June or even July—late May has consistently been a good time to sell, according to the company.

This year, many potential home buyers have been waiting out the market, hoping for lower mortgage rates and prices and higher inventory.