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Sellers listing during this "Goldilocks" window could see $26,000 more than at the start of the year as mortgage rates ease and buyer demand ramps up
AUSTIN, Texas, March 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Typical market seasonality and improving affordability conditions are converging to create a highly favorable window for U.S. home sellers during the week of April 12-18th. According to the 2026 Best Time to Sell report from Realtor.com®, the week of April 12-18th is expected to be the best time to list a home in 2026, offering a "Goldilocks" balance of higher prices, strong buyer demand, and a fast market pace.
As mortgage rates stabilized in the low-6% range in late 2025 and reached some of the lowest levels in nearly four years in early 2026, a cohort of previously sidelined buyers is expected to re-engage with the market. This rebound in demand will coincide with a seasonal thaw and is expected to peak mid-April, where historically, listings receive 16.7% more views than the average week, while homes sell approximately 17% faster—roughly nine days quicker than the annual norm. For the 2026 market, this could translate to a national median listing price that is $5,300 above the annual average—and $26,000 more than in January.
"After years of being squeezed by limited inventory and high rates, the 2026 housing market is starting to feel more approachable for those who have been sidelined," said Danielle Hale, chief economist at Realtor.com®. "This shift doesn't just mean more options; lower rates and tempered price growth should give buyers' some budget breathing room. For sellers, the mid-April window represents an opportunity to enter a market that feels more within reach for buyers while benefiting from a seasonal advantage in terms of pricing and competition."
Why the Week of April 12-18?
By analyzing seasonal trends from 2018–2025, the Realtor.com® Best Time to Sell Report identified several key benefits for sellers who time their listing to this specific week:
- Strong Prices: Homes listed during this window historically reach prices 1.3% higher than the average week. In 2026, this translates to a national median listing price approximately $5,300 above the annual average and $26,000 more than the start of the year.
- Market Velocity: In 2025, homes during this optimal week were on market for 50 days—10 days faster than the year's average and three days faster than pre-pandemic 2019 levels.
- Inventory Advantage: While inventory levels have grown, the national supply remains 16.8% below typical 2017–2019 levels. Listing during the week of April 12-18 allows sellers to bypass the surge in new listings typically seen later in the spring.
- Price Stability: Roughly 18.9% fewer homes see price reductions during this week compared to the annual average, as concentrated buyer activity supports firm asking prices.
Strategic Market Readiness
Early preparation is key, while 53% of sellers reported preparing their homes in a month or less, the complexity of the current market, which sees more power in the hands of buyers than in years past, suggests homeowners should begin the process well before their intended listing date.
Economic Uncertainty and Shifting Market Dynamics
The 2026 housing market is in a delicate rebalancing phase following a 2025 season where home sales matched nearly three-decade lows. Several shifting dynamics will define the coming months:
- Easing of the "Lock-In" Effect: Seller activity climbed through 2025 and the share of outstanding mortgages above 6% surpassed those below 3%. While this thaw in inventory provides more options, the path to a balanced market remains uneven as sellers and buyers navigate interest rate volatility.
- Recovering Purchasing Power vs. Affordability: Mortgage rates reached the 5% range for the first time in 3.5 years in early 2026, providing a welcomed development for sidelined buyers. However, the market's path lower remains "bumpy," requiring both buyers and sellers to "rate-proof" their budgets against sudden macroeconomic shifts.
- Risk of Late-Season Competition: Historically, by late June, median prices reach near-peak levels (+11.0% in 2025), but this coincides with a 38.4% surge in new sellers. Homeowners can mitigate the risk of being lost in a crowded summer market by seizing the mid-April window, where buyer interest is high but competition is still building.
"The housing market remains undersupplied, especially in the Northeast and Midwest, meaning sellers of well-priced, move-in ready homes are likely to find success," said Hannah Jones, senior economic research analyst at Realtor.com®. "However, in the South and West where inventory is more abundant, sellers face softer conditions. In those metros, optimizing timing to this early spring window is even more critical to differentiate a property from the growing competition."
Local Flavor: Why the "Best Week" Varies by Market While national data points to April 12-18 as the optimal window, real estate remains local. Depending on the region, the ideal listing window may already be open or still weeks away:
- The Early Birds: High-Demand Tech & Coastal Hubs: In markets like San Jose, Boston, and Seattle, the spring market kicks off much earlier. Savvy sellers in these metros often list in early to mid-March to get ahead of the surge. With inventory remaining tight, listing early allows sellers to capture "high-intent" buyers who have been scouring limited winter listings.
- The Steady Climbers: Midwest and Northeast "Value" Markets: Markets such as Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, and Hartford are seeing some of the highest demand in the country due to relative affordability. Supply in these areas remains quite limited, and the "Best Week" tends to align more closely with the national average in mid-April.
- The Sunbelt Shift: In the South and West, markets like Austin and Phoenix are seeing inventory return to pre-pandemic levels, granting buyers more leverage. For sellers in these metros, the mid-April window is the best bet to find a match as early buyers re-enter the market before competition from other sellers intensifies across the calendar year.
Market | Best Week Start Date | Listing Price vs Start of Year | Listing Price Change vs Start of Year ($) | Views Per Property vs Avg Week | Price Reductions vs Avg Week | Days on Market vs Avg Week | Active Listings vs Avg Week |
United States | 4/12/2025 | 6.6 % | $26,000 | 16.7 % | -20.5 % | -9 days | -12.8 % |
Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA | 4/12/2026 | 6.7 % | $27,000 | 18.7 % | -15.4 % | -8 | -10.1 % |
Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX | 4/12/2026 | 9.1 % | $41,000 | 26.3 % | -8.0 % | -15 | -10.2 % |
Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD | 3/15/2026 | 5.9 % | $21,000 | 22.5 % | -25.0 % | -7 | -14.8 % |
Birmingham, AL | 5/10/2026 | 10.5 % | $30,000 | 12.4 % | 0.4 % | -11 | -6.2 % |
Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH | 3/8/2026 | 8.7 % | $69,000 | 25.6 % | -46.0 % | -10 | -22.9 % |
Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY | 4/12/2026 | 15.2 % | $39,000 | 35.4 % | -37.8 % | -10 | -22.0 % |
Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC | 4/12/2026 | 5.6 % | $23,000 | 18.4 % | -17.8 % | -10 | -11.7 % |
Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN | 3/22/2026 | 9.9 % | $35,000 | 18.0 % | -23.3 % | -5 | -15.2 % |
Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN | 3/29/2026 | 14.7 % | $50,000 | 17.5 % | -27.6 % | -6 | -18.6 % |
Cleveland, OH | 4/12/2026 | 15.9 % | $39,000 | 20.3 % | -25.0 % | -7 | -16.6 % |
Columbus, OH | 3/22/2026 | 9.8 % | $34,000 | 34.1 % | -45.6 % | -9 | -25.9 % |
Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX | 4/12/2026 | 5.8 % | $24,000 | 23.5 % | -20.0 % | -9 | -14.6 % |
Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO | 3/8/2026 | 5.6 % | $31,000 | 35.2 % | -44.2 % | -12 | -30.0 % |
Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI | 4/12/2026 | 13.6 % | $32,000 | 32.0 % | -34.6 % | -6 | -21.3 % |
Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI | 3/29/2026 | 8.4 % | $34,000 | 22.6 % | -54.3 % | -5 | -27.2 % |
Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT | 3/15/2026 | 6.4 % | $28,000 | 27.2 % | -26.4 % | -6 | -14.3 % |
Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX | 4/12/2026 | 5.4 % | $19,000 | 17.5 % | -13.0 % | -7 | -9.1 % |
Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN | 5/3/2026 | 15.8 % | $49,000 | 24.5 % | -17.9 % | -11 | -16.6 % |
Jacksonville, FL | 3/22/2026 | 5.3 % | $20,000 | 24.7 % | -15.5 % | -7 | -9.8 % |
Kansas City, MO-KS | 3/22/2026 | 7.3 % | $28,000 | 18.2 % | -35.3 % | -4 | -18.7 % |
Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV | 3/22/2026 | 3.6 % | $17,000 | 31.6 % | -24.4 % | -7 | -18.2 % |
Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA | 3/22/2026 | 7.0 % | $73,000 | 20.0 % | -22.2 % | -5 | -13.9 % |
Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN | 4/26/2026 | 10.5 % | $32,000 | 15.0 % | -35.6 % | -5 | -17.4 % |
Memphis, TN-MS-AR | 5/3/2026 | 9.0 % | $27,000 | 10.3 % | -10.5 % | -8 | -11.2 % |
Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL | 5/24/2026 | 5.1 % | $26,000 | 3.0 % | -1.7 % | -2 | -2.6 % |
Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI | 3/22/2026 | 9.2 % | $34,000 | 21.9 % | -46.5 % | -5 | -13.1 % |
Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI | 3/15/2026 | 6.6 % | $27,000 | 23.3 % | -41.0 % | -6 | -22.3 % |
Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN | 4/12/2026 | 6.8 % | $36,000 | 21.6 % | -17.5 % | -8 | -14.3 % |
New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ | 3/22/2026 | 4.6 % | $34,000 | 18.3 % | -18.2 % | -10 | -7.7 % |
Oklahoma City, OK | 3/8/2026 | 4.5 % | $14,000 | 18.4 % | -42.2 % | 0 | -13.7 % |
Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL | 4/19/2026 | 5.0 % | $21,000 | 23.3 % | -5.4 % | -7 | -9.8 % |
Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD | 3/22/2026 | 5.1 % | $18,000 | 19.8 % | -16.8 % | -7 | -9.8 % |
Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ | 4/19/2026 | 5.4 % | $27,000 | 18.3 % | -3.1 % | -4 | -1.4 % |
Pittsburgh, PA | 4/5/2026 | 10.8 % | $26,000 | 21.4 % | -19.1 % | -9 | -13.5 % |
Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA | 3/22/2026 | 3.1 % | $18,000 | 25.9 % | -35.6 % | -9 | -25.2 % |
Providence-Warwick, RI-MA | 4/12/2026 | 6.3 % | $34,000 | 19.8 % | -33.7 % | -7 | -16.5 % |
Raleigh-Cary, NC | 4/12/2026 | 5.7 % | $25,000 | 21.6 % | -22.5 % | -10 | -13.4 % |
Richmond, VA | 4/12/2026 | 7.4 % | $31,000 | 20.0 % | -19.0 % | -7 | -11.6 % |
Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA | 3/22/2026 | 2.7 % | $16,000 | 27.4 % | -17.3 % | -4 | -12.9 % |
Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA | 3/22/2026 | 4.6 % | $28,000 | 26.1 % | -33.6 % | -8 | -24.9 % |
San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX | 4/19/2026 | 4.8 % | $15,000 | 22.4 % | -11.3 % | -8 | -11.3 % |
San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA | 3/22/2026 | 5.4 % | $48,000 | 20.4 % | -29.1 % | -5 | -17.5 % |
San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA | 3/22/2026 | 11.6 % | $104,000 | 18.5 % | -27.2 % | -7 | -16.4 % |
San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA | 3/8/2026 | 11.4 % | $148,000 | 18.3 % | -32.4 % | -10 | -19.1 % |
Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA | 3/29/2026 | 10.2 % | $76,000 | 22.0 % | -52.3 % | -10 | -30.5 % |
St. Louis, MO-IL | 3/22/2026 | 8.1 % | $23,000 | 17.4 % | -21.0 % | -4 | -13.3 % |
Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL | 4/19/2026 | 6.2 % | $25,000 | 26.2 % | -1.4 % | -7 | -6.8 % |
Tucson, AZ | 5/3/2026 | 7.1 % | $27,000 | 11.3 % | -10.2 % | -5 | -6.9 % |
Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC | 4/19/2026 | 6.4 % | $26,000 | 19.4 % | -12.5 % | -8 | -4.8 % |
Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV | 3/22/2026 | 7.1 % | $39,000 | 18.1 % | -29.0 % | -9 | -15.2 % |
Methodology
Listing metrics (e.g. list prices) from 2018-2019 and 2021-2025 were measured on a weekly basis, with each week compared against a benchmark from the first full week of the year. Due to the onset of the pandemic, 2020 was an uncharacteristic year and has therefore been excluded from the analysis. Averaging across the years yielded the "typical" seasonal trend for each metric. Percentile levels for each week were calculated along each metric (prices, listings, days on market, etc.), and were then averaged together across metrics to determine a Best Time to List score for each week. Rankings for each week were based on these Best Time to List scores.
Each week was scored based on favorability toward sellers — this included competition from other sellers (active listings and new listings), listing prices, market pace (days on market), likelihood of price reductions, and homebuyer demand (views per property on Realtor.com). Percentile levels for each week were calculated along each metric, and were then averaged together across metrics to determine a Best Time to Sell score for each week. Rankings for each week were based on these Best Time to Sell scores.
About Realtor.com®
Realtor.com® pioneered online real estate and has been at the forefront for over 25 years, connecting buyers, sellers, and renters with trusted insights, professional guidance and powerful tools to help them find their perfect home. Recognized as the No. 1 site trusted by real estate professionals, Realtor.com® is a valued partner, delivering consumer connections and a robust suite of marketing tools to support business growth. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc.
Media contact: Mallory Micetich, press@realtor.com
View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/april-12-18th-is-the-best-week-to-sell-in-2026-according-to-realtorcom-302716563.html
SOURCE Realtor.com
As the REALTORS® Relief Foundation marks 25 years, the organizations deepen their commitment to helping families rebuild after disaster – and call on the community to help drive the next chapter of impact
AUSTIN, Texas and WASHINGTON, March 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Realtor.com® and the National Association of REALTORS® today announced a joint effort to support and amplify the work of the REALTORS® Relief Foundation as it marks 25 years of providing housing assistance to families impacted by disasters nationwide.
The announcement was made during SXSW in Austin, Texas, where leaders highlighted the essential role stable housing plays in protecting financial security and preserving generational wealth. As part of the event, Realtor.com®'s Chief Consumer & Marketing Officer Mickey Neuberger presented a $100,000 contribution to RRF Immediate Past President Mike McGrew to support RRF's disaster relief efforts and pledged to help raise awareness and encourage additional donations throughout the foundation's anniversary year. With today's donation, and additional promised support throughout the year, Realtor.com® will become RRF's largest contributor in 2026 at the Vanguard Club level.
Founded in the wake of the September 11 attacks, RRF provides grants to help families cover mortgage payments, rent and temporary housing expenses in the aftermath of natural and other disasters. NAR underwrites 100% of administrative costs, ensuring every dollar donated goes directly to housing assistance for disaster victims. Since 2001, the foundation has distributed more than $52 million in aid and helped more than 30,000 families nationwide.
"For 25 years, the REALTORS® Relief Foundation has shown up for communities when they need it most, helping people keep a roof over their heads in the aftermath of disaster," said Neuberger. "Homeownership is one of the most powerful drivers of generational wealth, but disasters can threaten that stability overnight. We're proud to support RRF's work and to stand alongside REALTORS® across the country to help ensure that a temporary crisis doesn't become a permanent setback."
As part of the joint effort, Realtor.com® will work with RRF throughout its 25th anniversary year to elevate stories of impact, drive industry-wide awareness, and encourage additional support from real estate professionals, the industry and consumers. By joining RRF at this milestone moment, Realtor.com® aims to help extend the foundation's reach so that more families can access short-term housing assistance when they need it most.
"As RRF marks 25 years of impact, Realtor.com®'s support strengthens our ability to deliver hope and housing when families need it most and helps to propel RRF into a new era of service and resilience," said RRF President Greg J. Hrabcak.
Less than a year ago, flooding devastated communities in West Virginia. In the aftermath, RRF grants helped local families cover housing costs while they repaired and rebuilt – reinforcing the foundation's long-standing mission to provide a bridge between disaster and recovery.
"So many people take advantage of people in dark situations, and this was the opposite of that – this was light and life," said Sandi Blankenship, the mother of a West Virginia homeowner and RRF grant recipient. "You'll never find enough time for me to sing the praises of what this team of REALTORS® came in here and did."
In recognition of the RRF's 25th anniversary, the organizations are inviting the broader real estate community, professionals and consumers to join in supporting its mission. To contribute, visit fundraise.givesmart.com/vf/RDCRRF26 or text RDCRRF26 to 71777. Realtor.com® will provide a dollar-for-dollar match for all eligible donations through May 31, up to $100,000. This commitment is in addition to today's contribution, bringing the total potential funding for the initiative to $200,000.
About Realtor.com®
Realtor.com® pioneered online real estate and has been at the forefront for over 25 years, connecting buyers, sellers, and renters with trusted insights, professional guidance and powerful tools to help them find their perfect home. Recognized as the No. 1 site trusted by real estate professionals, Realtor.com® is a valued partner, delivering consumer connections and a robust suite of marketing tools to support business growth. Realtor.com® is operated by News Corp [Nasdaq: NWS, NWSA] [ASX: NWS, NWSLV] subsidiary Move, Inc.
About the REALTORS® Relief Foundation
RRF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that exists to provide financial housing assistance to the public after disasters. In its 25 years of existence, more than $52 million in aid has helped more than 30,000 families. RRF is supported generously by the REALTOR® organization family. Local and state REALTOR® associations partner with RRF as they mobilize REALTORS® in their locale to assist those in need. NAR covers all administrative costs allowing 100% of donations to be used for disaster relief.
About the National Association of REALTORS®
As America's largest trade association, the National Association of REALTORS® is involved in all aspects of residential and commercial real estate. The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. For free consumer guides about navigating the homebuying and selling transaction processes – from written buyer agreements to negotiating compensation – visit facts.realtor.
Media Contacts:
Realtor.com®: Sara Wiskerchen, press@realtor.com
NAR: Spencer High, media@nar.realtor
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/realtorcom-and-the-national-association-of-realtors-join-forces-for-disaster-housing-relief-302713989.html
SOURCE Realtor.com
