Best time to sell or buy a home?

We can use the number of closings, using the MLS database, single family residential, by month.  We must remember that the contracts to purchase were written on the average of 45 days prior to the closing date.  Most of the 'looking' was done 60-70 days prior to the closing date.

Closed Sales, Moore County,  Single Family Residential only, by Month

Data from the Southern Pines/Pinehurst MLS system

Looking at the table you can see the best time to put your home on the market.  Using a figure of 90-100 days lead time prior to closing, one would have to concur that February would be the first good month to start advertising and have your listing ready.  We feel 30 days for the ads to be out and effective and 30 days for the first lookers and you should expect a contract by May.

Buyers can use this information in an inverse way, using the 'desperate' months for sellers to make offers, one would expect to be able to bargain the price down more than normal. You should expect a limited selection of homes during these times though.

Average sales price and units closed, Moore County, Single Family residential