When Is the Best Time to Sell a House In Houston?

10 Houston trends sellers should know

Now we’ll go into some of the trends that are driving the Houston market.

1. “Everything is booming,” said Simon, adding that investors are particularly active among buyers in the city.
2. Properties in Texas are getting multiple offers driven by buyers, primarily millennials, coming in from outside the area.
3. The strong Houston job market is also making the city attractive to migrants.
4. According to HAR’s Housing Affordability Index, 38% of Houston-area households could afford a median-priced home in the third quarter of this year, up from 35% last year. This is the first time housing affordability has improved year over year since 2020.
5. Houston’s suburbs saw significant population growth, with Liberty County leading the way experiencing a 20.3% increase in residents from 2020 to 2024, the highest percentage gain in the Houston area.
6. After two years of declines, single-family home sales bounced back in 2024, with 85,163 homes sold, up from 84,038 in 2023, reflecting a 1.3 percent increase.
7. River Oaks is Houston’s most expensive neighborhood in Houston with an average cost of $2.8 million and $652 per square foot.
8. Sharpstown comes in as the most affordable with an average price of $228,000.
9. The Woodlands, Sugar Land, and Missouri City are some of the U.S. cities that have seen the biggest growth in housing inventory since 2005.
10. The Houston area has outpaced all other U.S. markets in adding single-family homes since 2020. This suggests increased competition among sellers.

Insider tips for a high and fast home sale in Houston

Regardless of when you decide or need to sell your home, here are some essential tips to help you get a fast sale and top dollar for your Houston property.

• If you list in the spring or summer months, provide some backyard staging such as outdoor seating or a backyard fire pit. Spruce up the landscaping.
• Stage a home office to appeal to the subset of out-of-town buyers who may be working remotely.
• Make sure the listing highlights proximity to good school districts, colleges, or job centers, if applicable.
• Show that your home is ready for hurricane season by installing storm-proof windows or shutters.
• When cleaning, don’t forget your home’s exterior. Powerwash all dirt, cobwebs, or red clay.
• Dogs are popular pets in Houston, so adding or repairing fencing is helpful.
• City buyers need storage, so declutter the garage and spruce up the shed.

Answers to other Houston home-selling questions

Here are some additional insights to consider if you’re selling a home in Houston.

How do appreciation rates in Houston compare to other cities?

Houston’s home prices appreciated a moderate 1.3% from $330,000 in December 2023 to $334,290 in December 2024. In Jacksonville, Florida, home prices rose by 0.3% year over year, with the median sale price reaching $311,000.

Meanwhile, Memphis Tennessee’s home prices hovered at $167,000 in December 2024, a 1.3% decline compared to last year. This suggests that Houston’s home price appreciation outpaces other similar cities, despite slower growth compared to more rapid increases seen in previous years.

If you’d like to see what happened with your own home’s value growth, take a look at HomeLight’s free Home Value Estimator.

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

If you’re facing a life change that requires a fast home sale, or you don’t have the time or money to make needed repairs, consider requesting an all-cash offer using HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform.

Simple Sale provides cash offers for Houston homes in almost any condition. You can skip the repairs and showings and close in as few as 10 days. Complete a short questionnaire and receive a no-obligation cash offer within 24 hours.

What’s a common mistake that people make when selling a home in Houston?

According to Simon, Houston sellers sometimes pick agents just because they are family or friends, but this isn’t a good approach.

“Not everyone has the tools to negotiate the best deal,” says Simon. “Any agent can list, but can they sell it for top dollar?”

Is Houston the fastest growing city by population?

No, but it saw a significant population surge from 2022 to 2023, according to recent U.S. Census Bureau data, adding over 11,000 residents during that time. Texas cities like Celina, Fulshear, Princeton, and Anna ranked as the top four fastest-growing cities.

Find a top agent in Houston for a successful sale

To recap, the general approach for timing the Houston market for a fast sale means you’ll want to get started with a listing in May. For the highest price, shoot for September. The caveat to this is if you’re selling in suburban areas or within competitive school districts. For these areas, consider listing in June for both a fast sale and the highest price.

Now that you know when to list a house to sell in Houston, keep in mind that even the best timing of the market will only go so far without the assistance of a top real estate agent to guide you.

It’s one of the best ways to ensure a successful sale. Our data shows that the top 5% of real estate agents across the U.S. sell homes faster and for as much as 10% more than the average agent.

Partner with a top Houston 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.

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