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What to Expect in the Homebuying Season

Homebuyers will need to be on their toes this homebuying season if they are to snag their dream abode if the typical time taken to sell a home in 2017 is any indication. According to a report by Zillow, homes sold faster than ever in 2017, with a typical median-priced house flying off the market in 81 days. And this has been the case for the past three years, the report said citing data that indicated homes sold slightly faster at 80 days in 2016.

In 2017, the fastest-selling market was San Jose, California, with the typical home sold in 41 days. Homes in Miami, on the other hand, took 110 days to sell in both years, the report indicated.

What do these numbers indicate for 2018? “As demand has outpaced supply in the housing market over the past three years, buying a home has become an exercise in speed and agility,” said Aaron Terrazas, Senior Economist at Zillow. “This is shaping up to be another competitive home shopping season for buyers, who may have to linger on the market until they find the right home but then sprint across the finish line once they do. Being prepared—working with a great agent, getting financing pre-approved—can help a buyer make a stand-out offer.”

According to an earlier Zillow report on Group Consumer Housing trends, a typical buyer spends around four months searching for a home and makes two offers before successfully closing on a home. But the latest data indicates that homes sold in lesser time than that in 2016 and 2017, making it imperative for homebuyers to be ready to move quickly when they find a home they want to purchase, the report said.

The report also indicated that homes sold the fastest in June, when the typical U.S. home sold in 73 days flat. In San Jose, the report said, homes sold fastest last year in October within just 39 days of being listed.

About Author: Radhika Ojha

Radhika Ojha is an independent writer and editor. A former Online Editor and currently a reporter for MReport, she is a graduate of the University of Pune, India, where she received her B.A. in Commerce with a concentration in Accounting and Marketing and an M.A. in Mass Communication. Upon completion of her master’s degree, Ojha worked at a national English daily publication in India (The Indian Express) where she was a staff writer in the cultural and arts features section. Ojha also worked as Principal Correspondent at HT Media Ltd and at Honeywell as an executive in corporate communications. She and her husband currently reside in Houston, Texas.
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