If you’re planning to put your Raleigh property on the market, you may be searching for strategies to set yourself up for success, whether that means securing the highest sale price or achieving a quick closing. While partnering with the best local agent and getting your home ready are key steps, the timing of your listing can also play an important role in your outcome. To help you determine the optimal time to sell a home in Raleigh, we connected with Tina Caul, a highly rated agent with over 25 years of experience. Caul also offers professional advice and insights to help you attract serious buyers more quickly.
According to Caul, the Raleigh housing market is “hot, resilient, and competitive,” characterized by steady buyer demand and robust activity. “Raleigh consistently ranks as one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. thanks to the Research Triangle, major universities, and a steady flow of relocations. Even when rates climbed, demand never fully died here. People want to live in Raleigh,” says Caul. Typically, homes in Raleigh sell in about 59 days after being listed. In the real estate industry, this timeframe is known as days on market (DOM), which measures the length of time between listing a property and securing a signed contract. For context, the national average DOM is currently 62 days. The median sale price for homes in Raleigh is about $465,000, reflecting a 2.7% drop year over year. According to Caul, “buyers are more payment-sensitive. Affordability is the #1 objection.” However, inventory is still tight, and employers in tech, biotech, and healthcare continue to fuel housing demand in Raleigh. What implications do these patterns hold for sellers? While plenty of eager buyers remain active in Raleigh’s market, it’s still essential to set the right price and present your home effectively. Caul suggests capitalizing on the “best of both worlds” appeal of the city, emphasizing both career opportunities and quality of life to prospective buyers — especially those relocating from the Northeast or California. Although factors such as high interest rates and housing supply are impacting the market, Raleigh typically experiences seasonal patterns, with sales activity rising during the spring season. Therefore, the ideal months to list your property for the highest returns are from March through June. If your priority is a quick sale, the optimal starting point in Raleigh’s market is April. “March through June is peak buyer activity — school calendars drive families to move then. Homes show better with green grass, flowers, and longer daylight hours,” says Caul. Since it generally takes about 59 days to find a buyer and roughly 42 days for the buyer’s loan to close, it’s advisable to list your home two or three months ahead of the peak selling period. Let’s examine sales data for Raleigh and neighboring cities to identify the best time to sell your home, whether your goal is maximizing profit or selling quickly. According to Caul, other factors that can impact the ideal time to sell in Raleigh include school calendars — with most families wanting to move before August — the weather, and university or employer timelines. “We see job relocations spike around hiring cycles for NC State, Duke, UNC, and the RTP companies,” Caul notes. Explore home-selling trends for other locations by visiting our Best Time to Sell Calculator. With these insights, you’ll be ready to consult a top-rated Raleigh real estate agent who can provide tailored advice on the optimal month to list your home, based on your specific neighborhood, personal circumstances, and market trends.Raleigh housing trends
When is the best time to sell a house in Raleigh?
Best times to sell a house in Raleigh
Selling objective
List month
Close month
Benefit
Best time for higher price
August
November
You could sell your house for 4.42% more than the yearly average.
Best time to sell fast
April
July
You could sell your house 8 days sooner than if listed in other months.
Best times to sell a house in Greensboro
Selling objective
List month
Close month
Benefit
Best time for higher price
March
June
You could sell your house for 5.93% more than the yearly average.
Best time to sell fast
April
July
You could sell your house 5 days sooner than if listed in other months.
Best times to sell a house in Fayetteville
Selling objective
List month
Close month
Benefit
Best time for higher price
March
June
You could sell your house for 5.45% more than the yearly average.
Best time to sell fast
June
September
You could sell your house 8 days sooner than if listed in other months.
Best times to sell a house in Cary
Selling objective
List month
Close month
Benefit
Best time for higher price
February
May
You could sell your house for 5.40% more than the yearly average.
Best time to sell fast
April
July
You could sell your house 15 days sooner than if listed in other months.
Best times to sell a house in Clayton
Selling objective
List month
Close month
Benefit
Best time for higher price
April
July
You could sell your house for 2.79% more than the yearly average.
Best time to sell fast
April
July
You could sell your house 6 days sooner than if listed in other months.
