Good Question: What's The Best Time Of Year To Sell A Home?

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Experts say the spring housing season is off to a slow start.

The National Association of Realtors says the number of homes for sale is down in the Twin Cities and other markets.

Typically people thinking about selling are thinking about those warm-weather months.

But even during that stretch of time, there is a two-week period where some feel you get the biggest bang for your buck.

"As far as homes on the market, we are down in the 10,000 to 12,000, which is half of what you normally would see," said Herb Tousley, director of real estate programs at the University of St. Thomas.

With fewer options, it is a seller's market. But researchers at Zillow say the very best time to sell your home is between May 1 and May 15.

Their study shows that on average across the country, homes sold during that two-week period sold about 18-days faster than homes outside that timeframe. And they also sold for about 1-percent more than the average listing.

Tousley says spring is a good time to sell. But in Minnesota, June sales have been even better.

"June seems to be the month where we have the highest median sale price," Tousley said. "We have the most homes that get sold."

Tousley says June is also when Minnesota homes spend the fewest days on the market. It times out pretty well for families looking to sell after school gets out, and move into a new house by Labor Day.

"It's a good time to be a seller," Tousley said.

This varies, of course, based on where you live.

Zillow's study points to those first two weeks in May. But in the south, with warmer weather, sales really heat up in February and March.