One important real estate factor I have followed as I’ve been reporting and writing about the housing market (and other finance topics) over many years is the amount of time it is taking, on average, for home sellers to make a sale.
And early in 2026, it’s taking far longer than usual.
“The typical U.S. home that sold in January spent 64 days on the market before going under contract, the longest span in six years and roughly a week longer than a year earlier,” wrote real estate technology company Redfin. “Pending home sales fell 3.3% year over year, in line with the declines we have seen over the last few months.”
Related: Redfin, Zillow reveal major mortgage rate, housing market change
Warren Buffett‘s Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices (BHHS) warns Americans looking to sell about a few reasons why a home might be sitting on the market longer than expected.
“The most frequent culprit is pricing too high — buyers compare options quickly, and an overpriced home often gets skipped,” Berkshire recently wrote. “Another factor is presentation. Clutter, dated décor, or deferred maintenance can make buyers hesitate, even if the home has great potential.”
Berkshire Hathaway also explains that one’s marketing strategy plays a significant role.
“Low‑quality photos, limited online exposure, or missing video and virtual tour options can reduce interest,” wrote BHHS. “Today’s buyers expect polished, accessible listing content that helps them visualize the home before they ever step inside.”
“Finally, consider market timing. Seasonal slowdowns or increased competition can affect activity even when your home is well‑priced and well‑presented.”
Zillow raises red flag on the best time to sell a home
Real estate technology firm Zillow reports that the best month to sell a house has historically been May, or sometimes early in the spring around March.
“Sellers who listed their properties in the last two weeks of May earned an extra 1.6% on the sale, which amounts to approximately $5,600 for the typical U.S. home,” Zillow wrote.
“While sellers typically see higher returns when listing between March 15 and July 31, many factors can influence the timing premium,” Zillow added. “It’s important to remember that local market circumstances also influence the best time to list your home.
“Those conditions include job growth, mortgage rates and tax incentives.”
Current mortgage rates impact home affordability
Mortgage rates began their most recent sustained rise in 2022. That inflection point is now the anchor for understanding affordability, buyer pullback, and the longer time it takes to sell homes.
The average 30‑year fixed mortgage rate fell to just under 3% in 2021 before climbing sharply, reaching an average of 6.66% in 2025, and then easing to 6.10% as of Feb. 25, 2026, according to data from Bankrate.
So let’s look at where mortgage rates are today.
March 17 was a mostly uneventful day for mortgage rates, but also a decent one, wrote Matthew Graham, Chief Operating Officer for Mortgage News Daily (MND).
“The underlying bond market made modest gains even without meaningful cues from oil prices,” Mortgage News Daily wrote. “Lately, oil price volatility has been the most visible motivation for bonds and, thus, interest rates.”
“After cresting 6.40% last week, the MND 30yr fixed rate index is back below 6.30% today, albeit just barely (6.29% for top tier 30yr fixed rates at the average lender).”
More on mortgages, housing market:
- Zillow sounds alarm mortgage rates, housing market
- Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices predicts housing market pivot
- Redfin sends strong message on mortgage rates
Graham also looked ahead to the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) March 18 meeting where it will decide whether to increase or decrease interest rates — or keep them the same.
“The market has conclusively decided there will be no rate cut,” Graham wrote. “Even if the opposite were true, there would be no implication for mortgage rates (because the Fed doesn’t dictate mortgage rates).”
“Nonetheless, Fed days can still cause volatility in rates, for better or worse. In tomorrow’s case, any impact from the Fed should be smaller than it otherwise would have been due to the market’s preoccupation with geopolitical influences.”
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Dave Ramsey discusses staging a home
Bestselling personal finance author and radio host Dave Ramsey argues that staging a home can have a major impact on selling a home quickly, and may even increase the amount of money buyers offer. Here are some of his tips:
- The visual presentation of your home can draw buyers in or push them away, so the goal is to make every space look as inviting and polished as possible.
- Before focusing on décor, take care of essential prep work: scrub every surface, clear out clutter to make rooms feel larger, and have rugs and carpets professionally deep cleaned.
- A fresh coat of paint is one of the most effective ways to make any room look brighter, cleaner, and more updated.
- Once the basics are done, concentrate your staging budget on the areas that influence buyers most: the living room, the primary bedroom and bathroom, and the kitchen and dining spaces.
- With a zero budget, arrange living‑room seating to encourage conversation, remove bulky items from the primary bedroom, tidy the linen closet, hide hampers, clear kitchen countertops, and set the dining table with your best dishes and linens.
- With a mini budget, add flowers and new throw pillows in the living room, update lighting, refresh the primary bedroom with new bedding, add plush towels and new hardware in the bathroom, and give the kitchen a lift with painted cabinets, new handles, a simple backsplash, or updated light‑fixture colors.
- With a max budget, replace worn flooring in the living room or update furniture, add window treatments and professional closet organization in the primary suite, upgrade bathroom finishes like countertops and tile, and invest in stainless appliances, stone countertops, and a standout dining‑room light fixture to elevate the kitchen and dining area.
(Source:Ramsey Solutions)
Related: Zillow predicts mortgage rate, housing market change
