Overview
- Realtor.com released its Best Time to Buy report Monday and identified Sept. 27–Oct. 3 as the national Best Week, projecting up to 31.9% more active listings, listing prices about 3.5% below the seasonal peak and roughly 30.1% lower buyer competition.
- The report translates the price dip to roughly $14,000 in savings on a median $416,000 home and expects homes to spend about 13 more days on market during that week compared with the year’s peak pace.
- Realtor.com ranked each calendar week using six seasonal metrics — active listings, fresh listings, listing prices, days on market, views per property and price reductions — using 2018–2025 data and omitting 2020 for pandemic distortions.
- Local timing and gains vary: the national Best Week matches the top week in 14 of the 50 largest metros and lies within a month of the local Best Week in 42 metros, so buyers should check metro-level dates before acting.
- The analysis excludes mortgage rates, so buyers must weigh the seasonal window against current financing costs that rose over the summer and consider getting pre-approval and local market research before making offers.