Summer’s winding down, and if you’ve been thinking about selling, you might be wondering if you missed your chance. Better to wait until next year or even next spring, right?

Not so fast. About one in three of all home sales happen in the last four months of the year.

Fall Is Busier than You Think

Data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows around a third of existing home sales happen in the final four months of the year. And that share has grown every year since 2023 (see graph below):

Here’s What That Means for You

According to forecasts from Fannie Mae, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), NAR, and Wells Fargo, there will be about 4.16 million existing home sales this year. Based on how many sales have happened so far, that means roughly 1.4 million sales are expected between now and December.

That’s about 11,800 houses selling every single day this fall.

So, the market isn’t frozen and you don’t need to put your plans on ice either. Yes, higher rates are keeping some buyers on the sidelines. But hold out for next spring, and you’ll sit out months when other serious buyers are ready to move before the new year.

How do you get in front of those buyers who are still out there looking right now? Getting your house sold this season comes down to how well it’s priced and presented,  and that’s where a local agent shines.

A good agent knows what buyers in your area want right now, prices your house to match this fall’s market, and positions it to stand out to the serious buyers shopping before year-end. From the first photo to the final offer, they handle the details that turn your house on the market into one of the 11,800 selling every day.

Bottom Line

Listing this fall doesn’t mean your house will sit on the market until spring. Buyers are out there right now, ready to make a move before the new year – and your window is still open.

To make yours one of the homes that sells this season, connect with a local real estate agent.

Ask a couple people how the housing market is doing and you’ll probably get a couple different answers. That’s because right now, the market runs on 2 very different tracks, split by price point.

Knowing which track your house is on changes everything about your sale, from your asking price to how long you can expect to wait before an offer comes in. Here’s what you need to know.

Home Sales Are Picking Up Speed at the Top of the Market

Rates and buyer competition are shaping this market differently depending on price point. Look at recent sales data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and the pattern jumps right out. 

Homes priced under $250,000 saw sales drop 2-3% compared to last year, while homes priced above $750,000 saw sales climb by double digits (see graph below):

What’s behind the divide? Due to higher rates and the last few years of home price appreciation, fewer buyers can comfortably afford homes at the entry-level price point right now – especially first-time buyers. So, demand in that segment has slowed down. 

On the flip side, buyers looking for higher-priced homes have less sensitivity to high-rate environments and more room in their budgets, thanks in part to a strong stock market and their equity in their current home. 

That’s the real differentiator. Lower-priced homes are still selling, just not as quickly since today’s rates have shrunk the pool of buyers who can afford to buy their first place right now.

This is exactly why pricing strategy and presentation carry more weight than they used to, especially if you’re selling in that range. Price it right from the start instead of testing a high number, make sure it shows well online and in person, and lean on an agent who can get your listing in front of every buyer shopping in your range. That’s the best way to make sure you catch the attention of one of the buyers who are still looking – and it’s how you prove your home is worth it’s price.

Why Some Homes Sit While Others Get Snapped Up

How fast a home sells is shifting by price point too, and the split is just as sharp. For years, luxury homes sat on the market a lot longer than starter homes. That gap has nearly closed, according to Redfin (see chart below):

Buyers with deep pockets are moving fast when a well-priced home in their range comes up. As Zillow puts it:

“The U.S. housing market is splitting in two. Luxury homes are selling at a faster pace than a year ago, with shrinking supply and growing bidding wars.”

If you’re in that range, your house may sell faster than you’d expect. You may even get multiple offers. That kind of competition changes how a listing should be marketed and priced from day 1. 

And no matter which side you’re on, that’s information you’re going to want up front if you want to have the smoothest sale possible.

What This Means for Your Sale

If you’re thinking about selling an entry-level home, don’t panic. Homes at your price point are still selling, just at a slower pace than last year. That slower pace means pricing and presentation matter even more right now. 

If you’re selling a move-up or luxury house, you’re in a good spot right now. Buyers looking in your price point usually aren’t as affected by today’s rates, so they’re more active, and good listings are drawing real competition.

Either way, your price point is the biggest factor in how fast your house sells and what it sells for.

Bottom Line

Your home’s price point is the real story right now, more than anything you’re hearing in national headlines. Connect with a local real estate agent to map out exactly where your house fits in this split market and build a pricing strategy that gets you the speed and price you’re after.

For most first-time buyers, the hardest part of buying a home is making the numbers work. You budget, you save, and the finish line still feels far away. 

But your salary is only half the equation. Where you live shapes what you can afford just as much. And if you can work remotely, you have an advantage a lot of buyers don’t. 

You’re not tied to living where the jobs are, so you can look where your money goes further.

Where You Work Doesn’t Have To Dictate Where You Live

Remote job openings are on the rise. According to FlexJobs, remote job postings climbed 22% from the quarter before. That’s the second quarter in a row of double-digit growth. 

More remote roles mean more people can choose a home base around the life they want to build. As Forbes puts it: 

“Remote employees, freelancers, consultants, entrepreneurs, and business owners have the flexibility to choose a home base based on the life they want to build, whether that means more space, a lower cost of living, better access to nature, or simply somewhere new.”

And you can use that freedom to look somewhere more affordable.

Your Paycheck Goes Much Further in Some States

Your cost of living – what you spend on housing, groceries, utilities, and the rest of daily life – varies a lot from one state to the next. In some, according to data from Extra Space, it runs far enough below the national average to change what you can afford (see map below):

Take Mississippi, for example, where the cost of living sits about 17% below average, or West Virginia at roughly 15% below. When day-to-day life costs less, you can put more of your income toward your goals, homeownership included. Relocate Right describes it this way: 

“Remote work has fundamentally changed the calculus of where to live. When your employer is in San Francisco, but you can work from anywhere, the question is no longer ‘where are the jobs’ but ‘where does my salary go furthest and what kind of life can I build.'”

For a first-time buyer, working remotely could be a chance to put down roots and finally buy. Because with that kind of flexibility, you get to choose where to live and which places work best for your life and goals. 

What To Weigh Before You Go

A lower cost of living is a great start. But it’s also important to consider the things a budget spreadsheet won’t show you, because a place can look like a great fit on paper and still not feel like home. 

• Is the internet fast and steady enough to do your job without interruptions? 

• Will it be easy to make friends and settle into a routine once you arrive?

• Does it have the amenities you want, like public transportation or decent takeout?

This is where a local real estate agent comes in. They can help you weigh a big move against a nearby one, because every state has more affordable pockets. Sometimes they’re closer than you think.

An agent will know which neighborhoods fit your budget and have the features you’re after, whether that’s walkability, good restaurants, parks, or a nearby farmer’s market. 

Bottom Line

With remote work, where you live can be your decision instead of your employer’s. And that puts more affordable places within reach.

Want to explore where that could take you? Connect with a local real estate agent to see what’s possible.