What Is the Average Time to Sell a House in Florida?

While the typical range is 30-56 days, with the right price, a top-performing agent, and timing your listing, a swifter sale can happen.

What is the best time to sell a house in Florida?

Not all selling seasons are created equal when it comes to listing your home in Florida. The best time to enter the market can depend on local trends, the characteristics of your home, and buyer behaviors in your part of the state.

“Here in Florida, historically speaking, July is the best time to sell a home,” Spearman says. “That’s primarily the month Florida peaks in sales, primarily due to school schedules. Once school is out in June, then families tend to move because they don’t like to move in the middle of the school year.”

Of course, selling time frames can vary from city to city within the Sunshine State. Below are two examples based on our Best Time to Sell Calculator, which uses statewide housing market data HomeLight has collected to estimate the best and worst months to sell your home based on two criteria — if you want to make the most money, or which months are best to sell your house fast.

In northern areas like Jacksonville:

• Best time for more money: If you’re in the Jacksonville area and your goal is to get the most money from your home sale, the best months to close on your sale are May or December. Since it typically takes about three months from listing to close, you would ideally list your home in either February or September to achieve a selling price that’s 3.5% to 4.5%% higher than the yearly average. On a $500,000 Florida home, that can be up to $22,000 more in proceeds.
• Best time to sell fast: If your goal is to sell your Jacksonville area house fast, listing in May could mean selling your house 6 days sooner than if you listed in any other month, with the fastest sales closing in August.

In southern areas like Miami

• Best time for more money: In Miami, the highest selling prices are typically a month earlier in April. So, to maximize your profits, you would want to list your home in January to achieve a selling price that’s 6.5% higher than the yearly average.
• Best time to sell fast: If speed is your top priority, listing your Miami home in December could help you sell your house 4 days faster, with the quickest sales typically closing in March.

Keep in mind that while these Florida selling trends offer helpful insights, the ideal selling time can still vary depending on local market conditions and your personal circumstances. Visit HomeLight’s Best Time to Sell Calculator for a more customized estimate based on your home’s location.

What factors influence the home selling timeline in Florida?

When listing a house in Florida, several factors can impact how fast it sells. These range from the home’s attributes to broader market trends and — as Spearman noted — the pricing strategy you employ.

When asked what specific property feature tends to sell faster or slower, Spearman reiterates the driving factor again: “I’m gonna say three words — ‘price drives sales.’ So any home that’s priced right is going to sell.”

She notes that in her Clearwater market — located on the west side, coastal mid-section of the state, townhomes and condos often sell faster than single-family homes. “It all depends on what the buyers are looking for in this market, but it’s definitely the price that’s driving the sales right now.”

But Spearman does point out that some home features can influence the selling timeline. Homes with built-in pools and smartly landscaped yards often sell faster. This aligns with the outdoor lifestyle many Florida residents seek, where well-maintained outdoor spaces can be big selling points throughout the state.

However, factors influencing selling timelines can vary widely from region to region within Florida, and from property to property. Other variables like the home’s condition, the quality of marketing materials, and the experience of your real estate agent can also impact how long it takes to sell a home.

If you need to speed up your home sale, see our post: I Need to Sell My House Fast: What Are My Options? For a more personalized analysis of your home’s potential selling timeline, consider speaking with a knowledgeable Florida real estate agent in your city.

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What will help my Florida house sell faster?

While selling times can vary widely based on many factors, there are certain steps you can take to help your Florida home sell faster. Below are some tried and true tips:

• Prepare your home: Spearman says her clients that have success apply careful preparations, such as fresh paint, new or freshly-cleaned carpets, a deep cleaning, and landscaping or garden work. We’ll share some top preparation tips in the next section.
• Emphasize outdoor living: In Florida, outdoor living spaces can significantly influence a buyer’s decision. If you have a backyard patio or deck area, make it as inviting as possible. In your listing and photos, highlight features like a pool, outdoor kitchen, or garden.
• Stage your home: Well-staged homes can often sell faster. Consider using a professional home staging company that can showcase your house in its best light.
• Price correctly: Overpriced homes can linger on the market. Well-priced homes can exceed typical DOMs. Spearman recounts, “I had a home recently that was on the market for 0 days before we went under contract because it was priced correctly.” Work with your agent to set a competitive price based on recent sales of comparable homes in your Florida city.
• Professional photography: Quality images can significantly impact online home searches, so even if you think you’re good with a camera, consider hiring a professional photographer. Most top agents will arrange for photos.
• Highlight unique features: Whether it’s a view or proximity to desirable amenities or locations, make sure to feature what makes your home special.
• Get a home inspection: Preemptively addressing potential home-selling obstacles can speed up the selling process and provide potential buyers with peace of mind.

How should I prepare my Florida house to sell?

Getting your Florida home ready for sale is crucial to making a good impression and securing a fast sale. Seasoned agents like Spearman know that most buyers prefer to walk into a clean, inviting home that is ready to live in — a home that is in good condition and everything is in working order.

The tips below, while they may seem obvious or simple, can be the deciding factor for a buyer choosing between your Florida home and another property down the street.

Here are some key tips to prepare your Florida home for a fast sale:

• Deep clean: An immaculate home will make potential buyers feel welcome. Consider hiring a professional cleaning service for the best results.
• Upgrade landscaping: Florida buyers love outdoor spaces. Invest in professional landscaping to enhance first-impression curb appeal.
• Improve energy efficiency: Install energy-efficient appliances or solar panels to appeal to eco-conscious Florida buyers.
• Fresh paint: A fresh coat of neutral-colored paint can make your Florida home feel new and well-maintained.
• Fix and repair: Ensure any necessary repairs are done, from fixing leaky faucets to replacing worn-out carpets.
• Curb appeal: Improve the exterior of your Florida home with well-maintained landscaping, freshly painted doors, or new outdoor lighting to attract more buyers.
• Declutter: Keep your Florida home tidy and free of personal items to help buyers envision their own lives there.
• Air conditioning maintenance: Ensure your AC unit is serviced and working optimally, as Florida buyers will likely check this, especially in the southern regions of the state.

By considering these factors and seeking professional advice, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision about when to sell your Florida home.

How can I sell my Florida home fast for cash?

There may be circumstances where you need to sell your Florida home quickly and are willing to accept a cash offer to expedite the process. While a cash offer will typically mean accepting a discounted purchase price, the speed and convenience may be the solution you need if you are relocating for a job, dealing with financial difficulties, or managing an inherited property that you can’t maintain.

While you could reach out to individual Florida house-buying companies or look for “We Buy Houses” websites, there’s an easier and more efficient way to sell your house for cash — through HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform.

Simple Sale connects you to the largest network of cash buyers in the U.S., streamlining your home sale process and letting you control your move-out date. By answering a few questions about your home and selling plans, you can receive an all-cash offer with no obligation in as little as 24 hours. This means you could close on your Florida home sale in as few as 10 days.

If you just need to move quickly, buy before you sell

If you’re a homeowner more concerned about moving into your next house quickly, consider HomeLight’s Buy Before You Sell program that lets you easily tap into your existing equity and start home shopping without waiting for your current home to sell.

Not only does this program help you make a stronger, more attractive offer with fewer contingencies, but you won’t need to move twice, saving you time and money. Then you can sell your current home unoccupied and staged. According to a recent HomeLight survey of top agents across the country, a well-staged home can sell for 13% more than an unstaged home.

Here’s how HomeLight Buy Before You Sell works in Florida:

Ready to sell your Florida home?

Selling your Florida house can be a big undertaking, but knowing the average time it takes to sell and the factors that can speed up the process can give you a competitive edge. By preparing your house effectively, pricing it right, and timing your sale, you can achieve a faster sale and a better price.

“Some of the home sellers in our market still think it’s March of 2022, and they’re trying to overprice the market, which makes their home sit on the market — sometimes over 100 days,” Spearman cautions. “But if they listen to their Realtor when they do the market analysis, they should have no trouble selling your home in a reasonable amount of time.”

If you’re planning to sell a house in Florida, get expert advice tailored to your specific situation. HomeLight can connect you with top-performing local agents who have a track record of selling homes quickly and for the best price. These agents can guide you through each step and ensure the selling process is moving along smoothly and swiftly.

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