Should You List Your Home Before or After the Holidays? The Data May Surprise You

Should You List Your Home Before or After the Holidays? The Data May Surprise You

If you’ve been thinking about selling your home, you’ve probably wondered whether the holiday season is the right time to put it on the market. Most people assume the real estate world goes completely quiet between Thanksgiving and New Year’s — but in Arizona, that myth couldn’t be further from the truth.

With perfect weather, winter visitors, holiday job relocations, and serious buyers trying to move before the new year, November and December can actually be one of the most strategic windows to list your home.

Here’s what the data (and my firsthand experience in the East Valley) really shows.

1. Arizona’s “Winter Market” Is Not Like Other States

While other parts of the country slow down because of snow, cold weather, and holiday travel, Arizona experiences a second buyer wave from November through January.

Here’s why:

• Temperatures drop from 110° to 70° — perfect for showings.
• Winter visitors arrive (“snowbird season”), increasing local demand.
• Buyers relocating for new jobs start house-hunting now.
• Out-of-state buyers schedule visits during holiday breaks.

Meaning: We don’t slow down — we shift into a different type of busy.

2. Buyers Shopping During the Holidays Are Highly Motivated

Holiday buyers aren’t “just browsing.” They’re:

• Relocating for work in January
• Moving to get into a specific school zone for the next semester
• Taking advantage of year-end tax benefits
• Trying to secure a home before interest rates shift
• Taking advantage of employer relocation packages

This is why homes listed in November/December often attract more serious, ready-to-purchase buyers than the typical spring crowd.

3. Listing Before January Gives You a Competitive Edge

Here’s a secret most sellers don’t know:

Inventory typically increases after New Year’s.

Many homeowners wait until January or early February to list, creating a flood of new inventory.

Listing in November or December lets you:

• Stand out with less competition
• Capture serious buyers before the market gets crowded
• Potentially secure a higher price due to limited availability

Buyers have fewer choices — which means your home gets more attention.

4. Homes Do Sell During the Holidays — and Often Faster

Over the past several years, East Valley homes listed during the holiday season have seen:

• Strong showing traffic
• Faster days on market
• Better list-to-sale price ratios
• More relocation buyers than any other season

Because Arizona attracts visitors from all over the country, November–January naturally becomes one of the most active relocation periods.

5. Holiday Décor Can Actually Help Your Home Show Better

As long as decorations are tasteful and not overwhelming, the holidays can make your home feel:

• Warm
• Inviting
• Cozy
• Memorable

Buyers connect emotionally with homes that feel “lived in” and loved. A beautifully decorated home photographs incredibly well — and first impressions matter.

6. If You Wait Until After the Holidays… What to Expect

Waiting until January isn’t a bad strategy — but it does come with a few realities:

• More competition as other sellers list
• More picky buyers as inventory increases
• Less urgency
• A slight shift toward more negotiation

If your goal is highest price with the least competition, November–December is often the better move.

7. My Honest Advice as a Local Arizona Realtor

I’ve helped dozens of families in Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek, and Scottsdale sell their homes during the holiday season — and year after year, I see the same pattern:

✨ Motivated buyers + low inventory = strong seller outcomes.

If you’re thinking about selling, don’t wait for January “just because everyone else does.” Arizona breaks all the traditional real estate rules — and the holiday window can be one of your biggest advantages.

Thinking of Selling in the East Valley?

Whether you’re in Gilbert, Chandler, Queen Creek, Scottsdale, or my specialty — Waterston — I’d love to give you a free, personalized market analysis and a strategic plan for listing your home this season.

📩 Send me a message anytime — I’m here to help.
(And yes… I appreciate you all the time.)