If you’re planning to buy a home this spring or summer, being quick and decisive is key—whether the housing market in your area is blazing hot or relatively calm. That’s the advice from real estate professionals in places like Boston, where homes sell rapidly, and Dallas, where the pace is more measured.
As the busy season for buying homes kicks off, expect to see around 4 million existing homes sold in 2025, with nearly half of these transactions happening between April and August. Ever since the onset of the pandemic, demand has outstripped supply in most areas. This trend persists in hotter markets such as New England, the Upper Midwest, and many parts of California. Meanwhile, some places like Florida, Texas, the Gulf coast, and the Pacific Northwest have seen a slight easing, though the imbalance remains.
No matter where you are, seasoned realtors suggest approaching the house-hunt as you would a job: be prepared and get your mortgage preapproval in hand. Attractive homes tend to disappear quickly from the market.
In fast-paced areas, like Boston, move-in-ready properties often receive multiple offers within days, as noted by Rich Rosa, a buyer’s agent in the hub. Here, houses spent an average of just 33 days on the market in February, making it one of the swiftest in the nation. Across the U.S., the time a home stays on the market varies, from just 22 days in San Jose to 118 days in Kalispell, Montana.
Real estate agent Kate Ziegler stresses the importance of prioritizing your house hunt activities, especially on weekends. When homes hit the market on a Thursday, they can have several viewings lined up by the weekend, with sellers potentially reviewing offers by Monday night.
Contrasting with this is the experience in cooler markets like Dallas-Fort Worth, where homes linger on the market for an average of 56 days. Yet, well-kept properties can still sell quickly. Cliff Freeman from eXp Realty advises seizing these good opportunities when they arise.
Getting preapproved for a mortgage is a smart move, no matter the market conditions. A preapproval not only clarifies your budget but also shows sellers that you’re a serious and financially vetted buyer. Freeman highlights that one sign of a competent real estate agent is making sure you’ve spoken with a lender early on. For new or seasoned buyers alike, having an experienced agent familiar with various market conditions is advantageous.
When it comes to the asking price, don’t assume it’ll be what you end up paying. In competitive scenarios, you might end up paying more, and in slower sales, there’s a chance you’ll pay less. Rich Rosa advises clients to not get too fixated on the listed price.
For hot markets, you may want to consider fast-tracking the inspection process. While most buyers now consider inspections essential, offering some perks to the seller might give you a competitive edge. For example, a pre-offer inspection lets you propose without an inspection contingency, showing sellers you’re unlikely to back out. Another approach is agreeing to cover repairs up to a certain amount, which reassures sellers you’re not nitpicking minor issues.
In expanding regions, buying a newly built home is often a viable alternative. Especially in Southern and Southwestern metro areas that are seeing new community developments, builders often provide incentives like mortgage rate reductions to make these homes more attractive. As Freeman suggests, first-time buyers could find fewer maintenance headaches with new builds.
He also recommends bringing along a realtor to new development tours right from the start. An experienced agent can help negotiate better deals on amenities or mortgage terms.
