Does the Portland Home Selling Season Start in March? How to Get Prepared
Listing Your Portland Home in the Spring
The conventional wisdom dictates that the best time to sell your home is when the market is at its hottest. And it’s hard to argue with the idea that late summer, when the weather is at its best and more buyers are out looking at homes all over Portland, is a great time to list your home. But there are other times when it’s just as good to list a home in the Rose City, and one of those times is March.
March can be a very lucrative time to list your Portland home, thanks to a combination of market factors and the effects of the weather changing for the better. Read on for more information about the pros and cons of an early spring listing, and for some tips on how to make sure your home is ready to attract multiple offers in Portland March.
No matter what, when you’re ready to sell – get in touch with Urban Nest agents right away: we know Portland, and we’re committed to helping you through every step of the process!
The PDX Home Market in March
From early November into January and February, for obvious reasons, is the slowest time of the year in Portland when it comes to the housing market. As a result, by the time March rolls around, the Portland housing market has the least amount of inventory it is likely to see all year. Buyers are starting to emerge from their winter-long slumber in March, and less housing inventory means a greater percentage of available buyers’ eyes are focused on your listing.
Another thing to consider: by March, your home will have accumulated almost all of the appreciation that it is likely to see for the year. In other words, it is unlikely that you will be able to list your home for more, even if you wait. On the other hand, waiting may set you up for greater likelihood to attract multiple offers on your home, potentially driving the final price well beyond what you were asking for in the first place.
The Effect of Portland Weather
Portland may be known as one of the wettest cities in the country, but the weather here is actually pretty mild when compared to other places this far in the north. And, while rain may be a very real concern in some other cities when it comes to listing a home, it doesn’t generally have much of an effect on the Portland market.
That said, anything beyond the rain that we’re all used to could bring showings to a standstill. Snow, or even worse – freezing rain – will keep buyers at home, as will temperatures above the mid-90s.
Thankfully, these types of weather are generally not on the menu in your typical Portland spring. That said, March is early, even in a town with winters as mild as the Rose City, for a garden to be much help in making your home look its best.
So, best to make sure that everything outside your home is looking as good as possible, and consider putting some early bloomers or container plants in to increase your curb appeal, as well as the desirability of your backyard.
Special Considerations for Portland Home Listings in March
Waiting a little later than the very beginning of spring to list your home is usually wiser – if possible. The weather gets better, buyers flush with renewed vitamin D levels are generally more forgiving, and your garden can make your home look more like the paradise it is.
But, with the winning combination of market factors mentioned above and the unlikelihood that real weather extremes will damage your chances, listing your home in March in PDX can be a real winner.