If it feels like it’s taking forever to sell your house, perhaps it’s time to reevaluate a few things. We asked Clarissa Marshall, an agent in Asheville, North Carolina, “How long should a house sit on the market?” We also did some digging to find out the average number of days houses are staying on the market, why, and what can be done to shorten that time.
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The DOM (days on market) factor
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), DOM — days on market — indicates the number of days from when the property was first listed for sale on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) to the date a seller signs a contract of sale.
DOM can signal market liquidity. In a seller’s market where inventory is lower than demand, the days on market are expected to be few in number. In a buyer’s market where inventory exceeds demand, days on market are expected to increase.
But other factors can impact DOM. If the property is overpriced, in a less desirable location, or needs a lot of work, it may sit on the market longer.
At the end of 2025, with inventory and mortgage rates improving, homes have spent an average of 73 days on market, and prices are lower than they were a year ago, when DOM averaged 70.
Because buyers may use DOM to negotiate a lower price, it’s important to work with an experienced real estate agent to offer advice and strategies to get the most out of your home sale.
How long do most houses stay on the market?
Market fluctuations alter the average DOM. In June 2021, the U.S. market saw a median of 33 days on the market. In January 2026, the median DOM is at 46.
Several reasons affect the number of days on market:
Low interest rates. Another new record DOM was set in 2022, thanks in part to the lower interest rate for 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage hovering around 3% to 4%.
Low inventory. When low inventory combines with high demand, houses don’t usually spend many days on market. In January 2026, the market experienced a decrease in listings by 0.8% compared with the previous month. Affordability improved, but sales decreased in all regions.
Remote work. Remote work provides flexibility to live anywhere. Marshall says Asheville has experienced “an influx of out-of-town buyers” who prefer the lower tax rate in North Carolina to other states and can now take advantage of that by working from home.
Reasons homes stay on the market longer than usual
Some factors result in houses staying on the market longer than the average, such as:
Overpricing. The number one reason a house lingers on the market is because it’s overpriced. If the price is too high, it may not even appear in a buyer’s search.
“Price is everything,” Marshall emphasizes. “If it’s priced correctly, it will sell.”
A stubborn seller who is emotionally attached to the home may refuse to lower the listing price or negotiate in good faith when a buyer offers a low bid, resulting in the house stagnating on the market.
On the flip side, if a home is priced too low, it can scare off buyers, who suspect there’s something wrong with it. To determine the right listing price, it’s important to work with a real estate agent who knows the market.
House condition. It may not be the price that’s scaring away buyers; it could be the condition of the house. Not everyone wants a fixer-upper. In fact, 76% of buyers want a turn-key house they can move right into.
Even if the seller offers credit for needed repairs, not every buyer is going to want to take on that extra work. Fixer-uppers tend to stay on the market longer and sell significantly below market value.
If a house isn’t selling, Marshall says the seller has to adjust either the price or the condition.
A house that’s outdated may appear to be in poor condition, or simply not appealing to buyers. Fresh paint, new fixtures, and alluring landscaping can allay many concerns.
Presentation. If a home doesn’t make a good impression, it’s relegated to a long stay on the market. First up is curb appeal. If buyers don’t like the looks of a house’s exterior in the listing photos or when driving by, they’re not going to come inside.
A fresh coat of paint, sparkling-clean windows, mulched flower beds, and an inviting front entry make a buyer feel welcome and eager to see what’s behind the front door.
Once inside, the home should be clean, uncluttered, and updated. Buyers notice upgraded appliances, countertops, and flooring.
Buyers also notice clutter. If a house is jam packed with furniture, it’s hard for a buyer to see the potential. Too many personal items make it difficult for buyers to envision themselves living there.
If your house doesn’t pass the sniff test, it may sit on the market for a very long while. Get rid of smoke, pet odors, and musty smells if you want to sell more quickly.
Lack of marketing. If buyers don’t know about your listing, they can’t view it. According to NAR’s 2025 data, all buyers begin their search online.
That means a real estate agent should take a diverse approach to marketing: newspaper ads, website postings, mailers, and open houses. For high-end luxury homes, it’s a good idea to add real estate magazine ads, virtual tours, and color brochures.
Marketing starts with enticing photos; subpar photos can sink a listing. Marshall says professional photos are a must. She also likes to include overhead drone shots and a video walk-through.
Limited showings availability. If the seller or the seller’s agent isn’t cooperative and flexible, showings may be limited. That leads to missed opportunities, as buyers are discouraged and will seek other properties, leaving your home to waste away on the market.
It’s not easy to keep a home in pristine condition or to drop everything at a moment’s notice if a buyer suddenly wants to see it, but the more flexibility a seller can provide, the more opportunities become available to sell.
After staging the home to show, it’s best if the sellers absent themselves while buyers are viewing the property. It gets complicated if the home is rented; tenants might not be so agreeable to a showing schedule.
Depressed market conditions. No matter how well your house shows, how accommodating you’ve been, how great your marketing is, or how valuable your property, sometimes a house can stay on the market because of the market.
If the economy is bad, if interest rates are high, or if the market is flooded with inventory that outweighs the number of buyers, it’s not easy to sell no matter what you do. Sometimes you just have to ride it out, which means your home can languish on the market longer than you’d like.
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