The annual question for those planning (or hoping) to sell their home in the spring or summer is whether to put your house on the market the first week of the year (we'll say Jan 1) or to wait until we're approaching spring (we'll say Mar 1).

It's a double-edged sword --- while there will be more buyers several months from now.... there will also be more sellers, competing with you.

Looking at this year (2011), between January and March:

• There were 21% more buyers in March (75) than in January (62)
• There were 7% more sellers in March (832) than in January (778)

So, while there is more competition with other sellers in March, the increase in buyers is even more significant.  When comparing January to April, the change is even more extreme:

• There were 68% more buyers in April (104) than in January (62)
• There were 11% more sellers in April (865) than in January (778)

So, just when I (might) have you convinced to wait until April to put your house on the market, let me offer up this comparison:

• In January-March this year, an average of 69 buyers committed to buy properties each month.
• In April-June this year, an average of 99 buyers committed to buy properties each month.

Sure, 99 buyers per month makes your odds better than 69 buyers per month --- but it's not as if buyers are completely dormant over the next few months. 

Perhaps the best bet is to examine your house and your segment of the market more specifically.  If you don't have much competition from other sellers right now based on the size, location, price range of your house, let's get your house on the market ASAP.  If you have LOTS of competition right now with very comparable houses for sale, perhaps it makes more sense to wait for a few months.

Feel free to call me (540-578-0102) or e-mail me to discuss whether it makes sense to get your house on the market now, or to wait until March or April.