Understanding the Timeline—and How to Speed It Up

One of the most common questions we get from homeowners is:
“How long is it going to take to sell my house?”

And the honest answer is: It depends.
I’m Brendan Moran with Five Star Real Estate, and while we’d love to give you a precise number of days, the reality is that your home will sell as quickly as the market says it will.

Speeding Up the Process: What You Can Control

If your home is priced correctly and marketed properly, you can speed up the selling process. But there’s no magic button—your results will always be influenced by current market conditions.

Let’s say the market is hot—more buyers than homes for sale—in that case, homes often sell fast. But even then, you don’t want to rush.

Selling a home in one day? That usually means the seller left money on the table.
It takes time to get the right exposure and generate enough demand to drive competition and secure top dollar.

What’s Different Now?

Real estate changes quickly. Two years ago, sellers could list a home and have multiple offers overnight. Today, depending on whether we’re in a seller’s market, balanced market, or buyer’s market, your strategy needs to adjust.

In a slower market, that first offer might be your best one. You want a skilled agent who can help you read the situation and respond with confidence.

The Absorption Rate: A Smarter Way to Gauge Speed

One tool we use to help determine how long it might take your home to sell is called the absorption rate. Here’s what that means:

• It’s the rate at which homes are selling in your area.

• It’s calculated by taking the number of homes sold in a month and dividing it by the number of active listings.

Here’s a general guide:

• Seller’s Market: Absorption rate of 20% or higher

• Balanced Market: Around 15%–20%

• Buyer’s Market: 15% or lower

If homes in your neighborhood are sitting for more than 30 days, that’s a clear sign they’re likely overpriced—and in real estate terms, that’s when we talk about making a price adjustment.

Bottom Line

How quickly your home will sell depends on:

• Market conditions

• How well your home is priced

• How strong your marketing is

• Your local competition

We’ll walk you through all of this when we meet so you can make informed decisions from day one.

📞 Thinking of selling? Let’s talk.
I’m Brendan Moran with Five Star Real Estate—your local expert with proven results.