Should I sell my house now?

January 7, 2026

1 5 minutes read

Key Takeaways:

It’s a good time to sell your home if you price it right and are open to negotiation.
Mortgage rates are hitting a nearly 14-month low, leaving the door open for high-priced buyers to reenter the market.
There are much more home sellers than buyers, which tips the balance toward buyers, but sellers can still get competitive offers.
Selling now can help you avoid potential price swings if the economy moves toward recession or inflation.

If you’re considering selling your home, you’re not alone. But with the current almost record prices for housing love everyone On the sidelines, it’s normal to wonder if this is the right time.

The average monthly home payment has surpassed $2,800, and home prices have risen for more than two years in a row. These costs have frozen the housing market, scare buyers and encourage more sellers to do so stay seated.

In addition to record costs, so are President Trump’s policies rattling the economy, further weakening demand. The result is a housing market with more offers than buyers, impacting national housing markets.

What does this all mean for home sellers? Let’s dive into the data to help you decide whether you should sell your home now or wait.

>> Read: How to Sell Your House in 2025: A Comprehensive Guide

From Redfin’s chief economist

“Home sellers must prepare for a buyer’s market. Rising inventory has given buyers more options, but near-record costs have made them wary. The lower mortgage interest rate has not yet yielded any buyers. Those who are willing to brave the current market are willing to lead the negotiations and pay a fair price.” – Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s chief economist.

What sellers need to know about the housing market

Here are some market trends to look out for before finding a real estate agent and listing your home for sale.

Buyers are usually in charge

There are more than 1,000 nationally 500,000 more home sellers than buyers. To remain competitive, homeowners must therefore be flexible on prices and willing to make concessions. Many do this, but so do a growing portion of potential sellers to elect not to put their homes on the market, or even to remove them altogether, pushing prices higher.

That said, trends vary widely across the country. In the Midwest and Northeast, there aren’t enough listings to meet demand, so urban sellers love it Rochester And Milwaukee can see bidding wars and quick sale. On the other hand, most Sun Belt cities prefer buyers as homeowners looking to escape worsening climate risks and rising insurance costs.

These are the top states where buyers have the upper hand, according to days on market. As a rule of thumb, the fewer days a home is on the market, the higher demand is likely to be.

The economy is volatile

House prices are unaffordable and economists are concerned about inflation could increase due to tariffs and immigration policies. The mortgage interest rate is also unknown, but has remained stable at approximately 6.3% since November 2025.

“Mortgage rates have fallen from last year’s highs, but with home prices at record highs, homebuyers are still struggling in a tough housing market.” said Chen Zhao, head of economic research at Redfin. “We expect mortgage rates to average 6.3% this year – down from 6.5% in 2025. But unless home construction soars or the country enters a severe recession, housing affordability and buyer activity are unlikely to improve substantially.

In these uncertain times, it’s essential to talk to your real estate agent to decide if this is a good time to sell.

>> Read: How to buy, sell or rent a home during times of economic uncertainty

When is it usually a good time to sell your house?

Spring is generally the best time to sell, when buyers are most likely to be active. However, market trends and personal considerations are most important.

In today’s market, sellers need to prepare for lower demand, plan ahead for their next home, and be realistic about pricing.

Here are some general rules sellers should follow to decide if it’s a good time to sell.

When the housing supply is low	Fewer homes on the market can drive up prices and lead to faster sales. That’s the case in many metro areas today, especially on the Midwest and East Coast, where demand exceeds supply.
When mortgage interest rates fall	Falling mortgage rates can cause an increase in buyer demand. More buyers in the market often means higher prices, stronger offers and potential bidding wars – good news for sellers. As rates drop, sellers should keep an eye on local market trends.
If you have to sell	Sometimes life requires you to sell. Maybe your family is growing, you need to move for work or you want to be closer to your family. In these cases, it may not matter whether it is an objectively “good” time to sell.

>> Read: How to sell your house quickly and for more money

When is it usually a bad time to sell your house?

You may have no choice but to sell your home, but with these trends in play, you’re less likely to sell quickly or above market value.

If the mortgage interest rate is high	Higher mortgage rates actually shrink buyers’ budgets, meaning they get less house for the same amount. This means often fewer, lower offers. If you can’t command the price you want, it may be worth waiting to sell.
If you have recently refinanced	If you sell soon after refinancing, you could wipe out any savings you made with a lower rate, especially when you factor in closing costs and expenses. Many sellers today are ‘locked’ to a pre-pandemic rate and see no reason to give it up – even though this share drop.
If your house needs work	A home that needs some TLC may be harder to sell and may attract lower offers. If you have major repairs on your to-do list, consider tackling them before listing them.

>> Read: 7 common home selling mistakes and how to avoid them

So should you sell your house now?

If you’re financially ready and have a great real estate agent, this could be a great time to sell a home.

However, house prices are sky high and continue to rise, forcing more buyers to wait for a good deal. Sellers don’t have the bargaining power they’re used to, so you may have to offer incentives to land serious offers.

Home sellers should do that connect to an agentcharge competitive prices and be open to offering concessions. Sell through Redfin gives you access to world-class marketing, pre-listing support and award-winning local agents. Qualified Redfin customers can also unlock Rocket Preferred Pricinga new program that allows you to save when you buy from Redfin and finance through Rocket Mortgage.

There are always good reasons to sell your house: perhaps you are moving, downsizing or hoping to cash in on the equity in your home. It may also be that you simply have to move. There isn’t a right answer for everyone, but when selling in today’s unpredictable marketplace, timing and strategy are more important than ever.