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

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. It uses statewide housing market data collected by HomeLight to estimate the best and worst months to sell your home. The recommendations are based on two criteria: when you’re likely to make the most money and which months are best to sell your house fast.

In northern areas like Jacksonville:

• Best time for more money: If you’re selling a home in Jacksonville and want to get the most money, December tends to be the best month for a sale. Since it takes about three months to close, listing your home in September can help you achieve a selling price roughly 4.33% above the yearly average. With a median sale price of $265,500 in Jacksonville, that 4.43% boost could translate to roughly $12,000 more in your pocket.
• Best time to sell fast: If you want to sell your Jacksonville area house fast, listing in May could mean selling your house six days sooner than if you listed in any other month. The fastest sales close in August.

In southern areas like Miami:

• Best time for more money: In Miami, HomeLight data suggests that you can sell for more money when you list your house in February and close by May. You’ll earn 3.36% more than the yearly average. With a median sale price of $576,700 in the area, that adds up to roughly $20,000 in additional proceeds.
• Best time to sell fast: If speed is your top priority, listing your Miami home in August could help you sell your house four days faster, with the quickest sales typically closing in November.

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: “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 backyard spaces often sell faster. This aligns with the outdoor lifestyle many Florida residents seek, where well-maintained exterior areas 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.

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 successful clients apply careful preparations, such as fresh paint, new or freshly cleaned carpets, 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, stage it properly to make it inviting. 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 sit on the market too long, while 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.
• Capture excellent images: High-quality photos 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 an excellent walkability score that makes the home near desirable amenities or locations, make sure to feature what makes your home special.
• Get a home inspection: Having a pre-listing home inspection and 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 turnkey home that is ready to live in, a home that is in good condition and everything is in working order.

The tips below, while seemingly 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: A clean 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.
• Apply fresh paint: A fresh coat of neutral-colored paint can make your Florida home feel new and well-maintained.
• Repair property issues: Make sure all necessary fixes are addressed, whether it’s repairing leaky faucets or updating worn-out carpets
• Improve the home’s exterior: Enhance the curb appeal 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 depersonalized to help buyers envision their own lives there.
• Maintain your air conditioning unit: Ensure your AC 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 can make a more informed decision about when to sell your Florida home.

How can I sell my Florida home fast for cash?

Sometimes you need to sell your Florida home fast, and taking a cash offer can help speed things up. While this typically means accepting a discounted purchase price, the speed and convenience may be the solution you need if you are selling due to a job relocation, 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 one of the largest networks 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 a no-obligation all-cash offer within 24 hours. This means you could close on your Florida home sale in as few as 7 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.This 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 also won’t need to move twice, saving you time and money. Then you can sell your current home vacant and staged.

Check out this video below to learn more about how our Buy Before You Sell program works:

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.

Spearman cautions that some home sellers are still overpricing their homes, which often results in properties lingering on the market, sometimes for over 100 days.

“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,” she says.

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 professionals can guide you through each step and ensure the selling process is moving along smoothly and swiftly.

Header Image Source: (Lance Asper / Unsplash)