“Is now a good time to sell?” is one of the most common questions we hear. The honest answer is that the market matters, but your own situation usually matters more. A great market doesn’t help if you have nowhere to go, and a slower market isn’t a reason to stay in a house that no longer works for you.
Here’s how to read the market yourself, how the seasons play out in the Inland Northwest, and the questions to answer before you decide.
How to read the market yourself
You don’t need to be an expert. Watch a few simple signals for homes like yours, in your area:
- Days on market. How long are similar homes taking to sell? Short times point to a seller’s market. Long times mean buyers have more choices.
- Inventory. How many homes like yours are for sale right now? More competition usually means more negotiating.
- Price cuts. If lots of listings near you show price reductions, sellers are having to chase buyers.
- Sold vs. list price. Are homes selling at, above or below their asking price?
- Mortgage rates. Higher rates shrink what buyers can afford, especially first-time buyers. Lower rates bring more buyers out.
A local agent can pull these numbers for your neighborhood, and listing sites show recent sales. Keep in mind that Spokane, Coeur d’Alene and the Tri-Cities don’t always move together, and even neighborhoods within one city can behave differently. A home on Coeur d’Alene’s waterfront and a starter home in Spokane Valley are in very different markets.
Seasons matter here
Our weather shapes the local market:
- Spring and early summer usually bring the most buyers. Yards look good, days are long, and families want to move before the next school year.
- Late summer and fall can still be active, though wildfire smoke some summers can slow showings.
- Winter is typically slower. Snow, ice and short days keep some buyers home, and it’s harder to show off a yard or fix exterior problems. On the other hand, there’s often less competition, and the buyers who are out in December tend to be serious.
If your house needs exterior work, remember that roofing, painting and concrete jobs get harder once the snow flies.
Signs it may be a good time for you
You have solid equity
If your home is worth well more than you owe, selling can free up money for your next home, retirement or paying off debt.
Life is pushing you to move
A new job, a growing family, kids moving out, a health change, a divorce or caring for a parent. These are often the real reasons people sell, and they don’t wait for the perfect market. See our guides on selling because you’re moving and downsizing.
The house has outgrown you, or you’ve outgrown it
Too small, too big, too many stairs, too much yard. If the house doesn’t fit your life anymore, that’s a valid reason to sell.
Big repairs are coming
If you’re facing a roof, furnace, sewer line or foundation repair, it may make sense to sell before you sink money into it. That’s especially true if you were planning to move in the next few years anyway.
The costs of owning keep climbing
Rising property taxes, insurance and utility bills can make a house that once felt affordable feel heavy.
8 questions to ask yourself before you sell
- Why am I selling? Be clear on the real reason. It shapes everything else.
- What’s the house actually worth? Online estimates can be well off. Our guide on valuing your home explains why.
- What’s my timeline? Do you need to be out in weeks, or can you wait for the right buyer?
- How much am I willing to spend on repairs and updates? And how much time and stress can you take on?
- What kind of market are we in? Seller’s, buyer’s or balanced, for homes like yours.
- Can I keep the house show-ready? Buyers may want to see it on short notice, with kids, pets and work schedules in the mix.
- Do I know all the costs of selling? Commissions, closing costs, repairs and holding costs. Our post on the cost of selling breaks it down.
- Where am I going next? Have a plan for your next home, and for the gap between selling and moving in.
Your selling options in any market
- List with an agent. Usually best for updated homes when you have time.
- Sell for sale by owner. Saves the listing commission but puts all the work on you. See our FSBO guide.
- Sell directly to a local cash buyer. Best when the house needs work, the timeline is tight, or you want certainty regardless of what the market does.
A direct sale takes market timing mostly out of the picture. With Backyard Home Buyers, you’ll usually have a fair cash offer within 24 hours, we buy as-is, there are no fees or commissions, we pay the closing costs, and we can close in as little as 7 days or on your date.
We’re a local, family-owned company. Both owners were born and raised in the Inland Northwest, and since 2019 we’ve done over 500 deals in Spokane, Coeur d’Alene and the Tri-Cities. Whatever the market is doing, we’re happy to give you a number to compare. See how it works or call (509) 461-9079.