When Is the Best Time to Sell a House in Dallas?

6 selling trends in Dallas

1. Increasing inventory

According to the Texas Real Estate Research Center, new listings in Texas have been on the rise from July to October 2024. Dallas saw a 7.3% month-on-month increase during this period. With plenty of supply hitting the market, sellers have to be strategic in whether it is a good time to list for the goal they have in mind.

2. Steady price movement

The notable increase in housing supply of almost 50% is not necessarily a bad thing, says Todd Luong, a real estate agent with RE/MAX DFW Associates. “The amazing thing is we have so much more inventory but prices only dropped 1%? That tells you how resilient and healthy the Dallas real estate market is,” Luong says.

3. High number of inbound moves

According to a study by United Van Lines, Texas ranked in the top 10 states with the highest inbound moves due to a new job or company transfer. Many of the people moving into Dallas come from California, which coincides with the move of some Silicon Valley companies into Texas.

4. Robust year-round market

Though there are seasonal trends, Neal points out, “We have a very robust market pretty much all year round because we don’t really have a winter season.” He goes on to say, “Jobs are always coming and going. It’s a big market in Dallas-Fort Worth, so things are a lot more even than they might be in some other markets.”

5. Increasing days on market

74% of Dallas homebuyers searched to stay within the area, according to Redfin data. Data also shows that homes in Dallas receive an average of two offers. Paired with an increasing days on market, this means that while there are decisions being made to move, homeowners are not in a rush to let go of their property for the wrong reasons. A low-ball offer, even though it could come in sooner, can easily get declined in favor of waiting for a more favorable offer weeks later.

6. Sales follow seasonal trends

Though the market in Dallas is robust year-round, Neal does observe seasonal trends in sales, saying, “The market pretty much follows that normal seasonal trend where the lowest amount of sales happen in January and the largest amount of sales happen in June or July.” Neal notes, “The market ebbs and flows pretty regularly and goes up about 40% between January and the end of summer.”

Insider tips to help sell your Dallas home

No matter what time of year you decide to list and sell your home, these expert tips will help you sell your house, whether your goal is to sell your house fast or for top dollar — or both!

Neal says that the number one way to get the most out of your home sale is to prepare. He breaks the home sale process into four phases:

1. Prepare
2. Market
3. Negotiate
4. Close

To make the rest of the process run smoothly, phase one is the most important: Prepare.

Preparing a house for sale requires some legwork. Neal recommends a pre-listing inspection, which is essentially the same as a typical home inspection, except that the seller pays for it before listing their home on the market.

“[This way] we know what we’re dealing with. You don’t want anything to catch you by surprise.” He goes on to say, “The second thing is the house should be super clean, and the third thing would be staging.” Finally, make sure the house is priced appropriately for the market.

Of these things, Neal sees professional staging as giving sellers the most leverage and the biggest return on investment, noting that, “Statistics show that a staged home versus an unstaged home sells for about 7% more money on average and in 50% of the time.”

If the home is still occupied, you probably won’t have to spend much more than the consultation fee and then use some elbow grease to implement the recommendations. Decluttering can go a long way, too. HomeLight’s agent survey reveals that it can generate an additional $11,706 in proceeds, while a fresh coat of paint can add $10,184.

If you have more time to prepare before listing on the market, a kitchen remodel can add an average of $28,826 in home value.

Neal’s number one piece of advice to sellers in the Dallas area is, “Just realize that you’re always in a price war and a beauty contest. Sometimes it’s hard to win and sometimes it’s easy to win.”

FAQs about selling a house in Dallas

Are homes in Dallas appreciating in value faster or slower than other similar-sized cities?

Dallas home values are appreciating at roughly the same rate as the country as a whole, but higher than the Texas appreciation rate in recent months. The median price in Dallas-Forth Worth-Arlington also outgrew Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos and San Antonio-New Braunfels areas.

To get a ballpark estimate for the value of your home, you can use HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator. Our free tool uses transaction data from multiple sources to create a real-time ballpark value estimate based on current home trends in this rapidly changing market.

What if I need a fast sale and closing in Dallas?

If you’re facing a life change that requires a faster home sale, or you want to avoid repairs and other home preparations, you can request an all-cash offer from HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform. With this service, you’ll get a cash offer on a home in almost any condition in Dallas. You just fill out a short questionnaire and will receive a no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours. Once you accept, you can close in as little as 10 days and be on your way to your next home.

What is the biggest mistake sellers make when selling a home in Dallas? 

The biggest mistake that sellers make in the Dallas area is not taking the time to properly stage their home and position it correctly in the market. Getting the home ready for open houses and showings with the help of a professional stager and then working with your agent to price the home correctly will help the home sell faster and for more money.

Find a top agent in Dallas for a successful home sale

Now that you know the best times to sell your home in Dallas, the next step is to work with a highly qualified real estate agent. Our data shows that the top 5% of real estate agents across the country can help your home sell faster and for as much as 10% more than the average agent.

When it’s time to sell, partner with a top Dallas agent by using HomeLight’s free Agent Match platform. Our matching service tool analyzes over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews to determine which agent is best for you based on your needs. Your agent will walk you through the process of preparing your home, getting it on the market, handling negotiations, and closing on the home.

Header Image Source: (James Khashchuk / Unsplash)