Key Findings: 

• Homes listed in the last two weeks of May sold for 1.7% more nationwide, or about $6,000 on a typical U.S. home.
• Timing can mean upwards of $20,000 of added value in Boston and Seattle, and more than $50,000 in San Jose.
• The best time to list ranges from early February in San Jose to late June in Baltimore.

For homeowners planning a move this year, choosing the right two weeks could be worth thousands. Sellers who listed their home for sale in the last two weeks of May 2025 earned the highest sale prices — 1.7% more, or about $6,000 for a typical U.S. home. 

This is according to Zillow’s Best Time to List analysis of 2025 home sales in the nation’s 35 largest metro areas. 

Late spring is typically when motivation and momentum meet. Buyer demand typically peaks before Memorial Day as families want to move during the summer and settle in before the new school year. More buyers shopping at once can spark competition and lift prices. Sellers who hit the market at that moment can benefit from heightened competition. 

Local variety

The best week to list ultimately depends on what is happening in a seller’s local market. While the national sweet spot falls in late May, the financial upside varies widely by city and price point. In some of the country’s most expensive markets, timing can unlock tens of thousands of dollars. 

Sellers in San Jose who listed in the first two weeks of February saw a 3.1% sale premium — a $53,800 boost on a typical home there. In Boston, listing in the last two weeks of May netted sellers 3.4% more or $25,300 on average, while Seattle sellers maximized profits by listing in the first two weeks of April, earning an additional 2.9% or $22,600.

Midwestern markets showed some of the strongest seasonal price swings. Sellers in Cleveland, Columbus, Kansas City and Minneapolis saw premiums at or above 3% during their peak listing periods.

In Texas, the ideal listing windows arrived earlier in the spring. Sellers in Dallas, Houston and San Antonio all saw the strongest returns in the last two weeks of April. In Austin, the sweet spot came even earlier, in the last two weeks of March. 

By contrast, Baltimore’s market peaked the latest, with sellers earning a 2.0% premium, about $8,000, when listing in the last two weeks of June.

Rates and real life still shape decisions

Although seasonality remains powerful, the reality is that most sellers can’t time the market. Life events still drive most sellers to move; perhaps they’re starting a new job, or a baby is on the way.

Mortgage rate swings also continue to influence buyer demand. When rates fall, more shoppers reenter the market. When rates rise, some buyers pause. That dynamic can amplify or soften the traditional spring surge.

With affordability having improved, buyer demand is expected to remain steadier this year and drive a modest rebound in housing activity. Zillow forecasts existing home sales will rise 4.4% from last year, which would mark the strongest total in four years.