Home Sales About To Surge? We May See a Winter Like Never Before.
Just like many other industries, residential real estate has its seasonal trends. Traditionally, spring is the busiest time of year for buying and selling homes. Historically, the number of buyers and listings spikes in spring and remains strong through summer, only to taper off in fall and winter.
But recent years have challenged those patterns — and 2025 may be no exception.
Why Last Year Broke the Rules
The pandemic disrupted the usual spring market, pushing many home sales later into the year. As a result, fall and winter saw unusually strong activity, though low inventory still limited the number of homes buyers could purchase.
The question heading into this winter: Will the market return to typical seasonal patterns?
Data suggests the answer is no. Buyer demand remains high, and the number of homes coming to market is expected to increase — setting the stage for an active winter season.
Buyer Demand Remains Extremely Strong
The latest data shows that buyer activity is far higher than in pre-pandemic years, even if slightly below last year’s peak.
Existing homes: Realtor.com reports that buyers have been snapping up homes faster than ever, with months of consecutive record-breaking sales.
New construction: Ali Wolf, Chief Economist at Zonda, shares that builders like Lennar are seeing high demand at sales centers — with buyers lining up and limited inventory.
The result? More competition for homes than in a typical winter market.
Sellers Are Getting Ready to List
Unlike in past years, many homeowners are preparing to list before the spring season. George Ratiu, Manager of Economic Research at realtor.com, notes:
“The pandemic delayed plans for many Americans, and homeowners looking to move on to the next stage of life are no exception. Recent survey data suggests the majority of prospective sellers are actively preparing to enter the market this winter.”
Some highlights from recent research of homeowners planning to sell in the next year:
65% have just listed (19%) or plan to list this winter
93% have already taken steps, such as working with an agent (28%)
36% have researched home values or started preparing their homes for sale
Reasons homeowners want to move:
33% want different home features
37% say their home no longer meets family needs
32% want to move closer to friends and family
23% are seeking a home office
Bottom Line
Buyer demand remains strong, and more homes are expected to enter the market. This combination could make winter 2025 a real estate season unlike any other.
If you’re thinking about buying or selling, now is the perfect time to connect with a real estate professional to explore your options before the market changes again.
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