Most contracts (and buyers and sellers) have been making it to closing within about 30 to 45 days.

Which means, that if you decide today that you're going to sell your house, and we have it on the market by the end of October, and it is under contract within 7 to 10 days (by Nov 7 or Nov 10) a buyer might be proposing a closing date of December 15 or 20 or 30.

So, as much as it might seem like there is plenty of time left this year... if you are hoping to sell your home this year, or before the holidays, you will likely need to start putting plans in place now (over the next week) to get your house on the market.

You can, of course, list your home in November or December and plan to close in January or February -- but if you want to have it sold and closed by the holidays, or by the end of the year, the time to act is now!