Beat the Spring Housing Rush in Western Washington

With fewer homes on the market, your listing gets more serious buyer interest. Let's build your launch plan.

Spring Starts in January (at Least in Western Washington Real Estate)

Every year, we see a familiar pattern: inventory stays tight at the start of the year while buyer activity wakes up fast. Translation? If you’re a seller, January to March can be a sneaky-good window to stand out, because you’re not competing with 47 other listings that hit the market the same weekend.

By the time we get into late spring and summer, inventory typically builds… and so does the noise. More choices for buyers = more competition for sellers.

What the data is telling us right now. Even in a market that’s been “weird” the last three years (hello rates + lock-in effect), Western Washington still has that seasonal rhythm.

Inventory remains relatively low compared to what most economists consider a “balanced” market. Buyer demand tends to return quickly after the holidays, often before sellers feel emotionally ready to list. That imbalance is why early-year listings often attract more attention per home.

We’re also seeing the long-discussed “lock-in effect” slowly ease. As more homeowners realize they may never see 3% rates again, life events are starting to win over hesitation. That doesn’t mean a flood of inventory; it means a gradual thaw.

Locally, Seattle and surrounding markets continue to move when homes are priced and positioned correctly. Days on market tend to be shorter earlier in the year, before competition ramps up.

“But isn’t summer the best time to sell?” Summer isn’t bad. It’s just not automatically best. Most sellers think, “We’ll list when the weather is perfect.” That logic is exactly why summer often turns into peak competition season. More listings come online at the same time, buyers slow down a bit (enjoying the weather and all of the activities that come with it), and sellers suddenly have to work harder to stand out.

Historically, spring beats summer more often than people expect, especially when you look at pricing strength and buyer urgency.

The Western Washington “best months to sell' Calendar. Ultimately, the best time to sell a house is when you are ready. However, looking at long-term NWMLS (Northwest Multiple Listing Service) patterns, certain months consistently perform better than others.

February, March, and May tend to be strong listing windows, with September offering a second opportunity after the summer lull. And yes,  homes often sell for their highest prices in the first quarter compared to any other quarter. That surprises people, but it makes sense when demand rises faster than inventory.

Your exact neighborhood matters, of course. Ballard isn’t Maple Valley, and Edmonds isn’t Bellevue. But the early-year advantage is real.

The spring market starts now, earlier than people think. If you’re thinking about making a move in 2026, the mistake is waiting until spring to start thinking about it. The smarter move looks like this:

• Start with a strategy session now
• Build a realistic prep plan and timeline
• Launch when the market conditions actually favor you, not when everyone else feels ready

The best listings aren’t rushed. They’re planned. If you want to win the early-spring window, let’s do a quick strategy session. No pressure, no salesy nonsense — just clarity.

I’ll help you map out:

• The best launch window for your neighborhood
• A prep timeline that doesn’t take over your weekends
• A pricing and marketing plan that helps you stand out while inventory is still lean

Want to talk more? Email me back, call me, or contact me through my website here.