By Otto Acosta, Offerpad Research Team | Data current through May 2026
In May 2023, a typical single-family home in Dallas went under contract in about 28 days. By May 2026, that same kind of sale was taking 46 days. In San Antonio, the wait has stretched past 70.
Something shifted in the housing market, and sellers who have not been watching it closely may be surprised by how much longer a sale can take. But the picture is uneven. In Indianapolis, homes still find a buyer in under three weeks.
To see how selling times have changed, we pulled market-wide data from the Redfin Data Center for single-family homes across 15 metro areas where Offerpad operates. The pattern is consistent: in most of these markets, homes take longer to sell than they did a year or two ago, and the distance between the fastest and slowest cities is wide.
How Long It Takes to Sell a House in Every Major Market
These are the median days on market for single-family homes as of May 2026, ranked from fastest to slowest. Median days on market is the point where half of homes sold faster and half sold slower.
Median Days on Market: May 2026
| Rank | Metro | Median Days on Market | Change vs. May 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indianapolis, IN | 18 | +4 days (+28.6%) |
| 2 | St. Louis, MO | 20 | +1 day (+5.3%) |
| 3 | Raleigh, NC | 31 | No change |
| 4 | Columbus, OH | 39 | +2 days (+5.4%) |
| 5 | Atlanta, GA | 40 | +1 day (+2.6%) |
| 6 | Orlando, FL | 42 | -3 days (-6.7%) |
| 7 | Tampa, FL | 43 | +3 days (+7.5%) |
| 8 | Dallas, TX | 46 | +1 day (+2.2%) |
| 9 | Houston, TX | 48 | +7 days (+17.1%) |
| 10 | Charlotte, NC | 50 | +1 day (+2.0%) |
| 11 | Las Vegas, NV | 54 | +9 days (+20.0%) |
| 12 | Austin, TX | 57 | +2 days (+3.6%) |
| 13 | Phoenix, AZ | 59 | +2 days (+3.5%) |
| 14 | Jacksonville, FL | 60 | -7 days (-10.4%) |
| 15 | San Antonio, TX | 72 | +12 days (+20.0%) |
Source: Redfin Data Center, metro-level single-family home data, May 2026 compared with May 2025.
The gap between the fastest market (Indianapolis at 18 days) and the slowest (San Antonio at 72 days) is 54 days, close to eight weeks. Most markets slowed compared with a year earlier, though a couple, including Orlando and Jacksonville, actually picked up.
Where Homes Sell Fastest in 2026
Three markets stand out for quick transaction timelines, and all three share tight inventory.
Indianapolis, Indiana (18 days) holds the top spot. With a median sale price of $333,820 and only about 1.7 months of supply, it is one of the more affordable and tightly stocked markets on the list. About 23% of homes still sold above their asking price in May 2026.
St. Louis, Missouri (20 days) is the standout for buyer competition. At a $318,750 median price, it posted the highest above-list rate of any market on this list: 48% of homes sold for more than the asking price in May 2026, and the typical home sold slightly above list. For sellers in St. Louis, the market still leans in their favor.
Raleigh, North Carolina (31 days) moves quickly even at a higher price point. The median sale price was $485,000, and about 22% of homes sold above list, with roughly 2.8 months of supply keeping timelines short.
Where Homes Take the Longest to Sell
At the bottom of the ranking, four markets sit well behind the rest.
San Antonio, Texas (72 days) is the slowest market on the list. It also carries the most inventory, about 5.2 months of supply, which gives buyers more choices and less urgency. Only about 15% of homes sold above asking, and the median sale price of $315,000 is among the lowest here. Selling times rose 12 days from May 2025.
Jacksonville, Florida (60 days) ranks near the bottom in absolute terms, though it is one of the few markets moving in the right direction. Its median days on market actually improved from 67 days a year earlier, and about 3.5 months of supply suggests the backlog is easing.
Phoenix, Arizona (59 days) has flattened out. Its median sale price of $485,000 was essentially unchanged from a year earlier, and about 16% of homes sold above list. Timelines have crept up gradually rather than sharply.
Austin, Texas (57 days) is still working through its pandemic-era run-up, when it was among the fastest-appreciating markets in the country. The median price of $459,000 edged down over the past year, only about 15% of homes sold above list, and supply sits near 4.8 months. The adjustment has been gradual but steady.
A Slowdown That Came in Stages
This did not happen overnight. The deceleration built through 2024 and 2025 across nearly every market in the data.
Consider Atlanta. In 2023, the average home there sold in about 36 days. By 2024 that had risen to roughly 43 days, and by 2025 it reached about 55 days. The early-2026 winter months, which are always the slowest stretch of the year, ran higher still.
Atlanta is not unusual. Every one of the 15 markets saw its annual average days on market climb from 2024 to 2025.
Annual Average DOM: 2023 to 2025
| Metro | 2023 Avg. | 2024 Avg. | 2025 Avg. | Change (2024 to 2025) | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston, TX | 37.8 | 45.1 | 57.8 | +12.7 | +28.2% |
| Atlanta, GA | 35.7 | 42.6 | 55.2 | +12.6 | +29.6% |
| Dallas, TX | 39.1 | 47.8 | 60.3 | +12.5 | +26.2% |
| Las Vegas, NV | 50.5 | 43.9 | 56.2 | +12.3 | +28.0% |
| Raleigh, NC | 50.4 | 32.0 | 43.8 | +11.8 | +36.9% |
| Austin, TX | 63.8 | 69.3 | 81.0 | +11.7 | +16.9% |
| Orlando, FL | 31.9 | 42.8 | 54.3 | +11.5 | +26.9% |
| San Antonio, TX | 55.9 | 67.8 | 78.6 | +10.8 | +15.9% |
| Charlotte, NC | 45.9 | 50.8 | 61.4 | +10.6 | +20.9% |
| Phoenix, AZ | 51.2 | 54.8 | 64.0 | +9.2 | +16.8% |
| Tampa, FL | 29.5 | 41.2 | 50.2 | +9.0 | +21.8% |
| Jacksonville, FL | 53.2 | 67.7 | 75.7 | +8.0 | +11.8% |
| Columbus, OH | 40.8 | 43.2 | 47.8 | +4.6 | +10.6% |
| Indianapolis, IN | 19.1 | 22.8 | 26.9 | +4.1 | +18.0% |
| St. Louis, MO | 22.7 | 25.2 | 27.2 | +2.0 | +7.9% |
St. Louis held up best, adding only about 2.0 days between 2024 and 2025. Houston added the most, roughly 12.7 days.
The May-over-May numbers show the trend carrying into 2026. Compared with May 2025, San Antonio added 12 days, Las Vegas added 9, and Houston added 7.
The common thread is affordability. Mortgage rates that have stayed elevated for the past couple of years have thinned the pool of qualified buyers, while many sellers have been slow to adjust their asking prices. Homes sit longer as both sides wait for the other to move.
Best Time of Year to Sell a House
Seasonality has a clear effect on how fast homes sell. Averaged across all 15 markets and every year in the data, homes sold in late spring move fastest and homes sold in winter move slowest.
| Month (home sold) | Average Days on Market |
|---|---|
| May | 30.0 days |
| June | 30.5 days |
| April | 31.9 days |
| July | 32.3 days |
| August | 36.0 days |
| March | 38.9 days |
| September | 40.2 days |
| October | 42.3 days |
| November | 44.7 days |
| February | 47.6 days |
| January | 48.0 days |
| December | 50.3 days |
Homes that sold from May through August took about 32 days on average. Homes that sold from December through February took about 49 days. That is roughly 51% longer for a winter sale.
The size of that swing varies a lot by market.
Markets with the biggest seasonal swings (summer vs. winter):
| Metro | Summer Avg. (May-Aug) | Winter Avg. (Dec-Feb) | Seasonal Swing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin, TX | 46.6 days | 69.6 days | +23.0 days |
| Las Vegas, NV | 33.6 days | 53.7 days | +20.0 days |
| Houston, TX | 26.7 days | 46.7 days | +20.0 days |
| San Antonio, TX | 42.5 days | 61.0 days | +18.5 days |
| St. Louis, MO | 15.4 days | 33.9 days | +18.4 days |
Midwest markets show some of the sharpest patterns. In Indianapolis, homes sold in summer move nearly three times as fast as those sold in the depths of winter, about 10 days versus 28.
Markets where seasonality matters less:
Phoenix (about a 10-day swing) and Tampa (about 12 days) show the smallest seasonal differences. In warm-weather markets with steady year-round demand, the calendar matters less than it does in the Midwest.
For sellers with flexibility on timing, aiming for a late-spring or summer sale rather than a winter one can shave anywhere from about 10 days to more than 20 days off the expected timeline, depending on the market.
The Financial Cost of Waiting
Time on the market is a cost of its own. A home that sits is a home you are still paying for.
The spread is wide. A typical home in San Antonio now takes about 72 days to sell, while a typical home in Indianapolis takes about 18. That gap of roughly 54 days is close to two extra months of mortgage payments, property taxes, insurance, and utilities before the sale closes. The longer a listing sits, the more those carrying costs add up.
Time on market also tends to track with negotiating leverage. In the faster markets, more homes sell at or above the asking price. In the slower ones, a larger share of listings cut their price before a deal comes together.
May 2026: Selling Conditions by Market
| Metro | Median DOM | Listings With a Price Cut | Sold Above List | Median Sale Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Indianapolis, IN | 18 | 44% | 23% | $333,820 |
| St. Louis, MO | 20 | 28% | 48% | $318,750 |
| Raleigh, NC | 31 | 36% | 22% | $485,000 |
| Columbus, OH | 39 | 25% | 40% | $385,000 |
| Atlanta, GA | 40 | 34% | 24% | $420,000 |
| Orlando, FL | 42 | 34% | 15% | $445,000 |
| Tampa, FL | 43 | 42% | 17% | $405,000 |
| Dallas, TX | 46 | 37% | 17% | $430,000 |
| Houston, TX | 48 | 38% | 15% | $349,900 |
| Charlotte, NC | 50 | 31% | 22% | $445,000 |
| Las Vegas, NV | 54 | 29% | 21% | $495,990 |
| Austin, TX | 57 | 37% | 15% | $459,000 |
| Phoenix, AZ | 59 | 33% | 16% | $485,000 |
| Jacksonville, FL | 60 | 32% | 14% | $419,900 |
| San Antonio, TX | 72 | 39% | 15% | $315,000 |
The contrast is clear. In St. Louis, about 48% of homes sold above list and the typical sale took about 20 days. In San Antonio, only about 15% beat their list price and the typical home took roughly 72 days.
Prices Up, Selling Times Up: An Unexpected Pattern
A seller might assume that longer selling times mean a falling market. In more than half of these markets, that assumption is wrong.
Eight of the 15 markets saw median prices rise from 2024 to 2025 even as homes took longer to sell:
| Metro | DOM Change (2024 to 2025) | Median Price Change |
|---|---|---|
| St. Louis, MO | +2.0 days | +7.5% |
| Charlotte, NC | +10.6 days | +3.7% |
| Indianapolis, IN | +4.1 days | +3.6% |
| Columbus, OH | +4.6 days | +3.3% |
| Las Vegas, NV | +12.3 days | +1.9% |
| Orlando, FL | +11.5 days | +1.0% |
| Phoenix, AZ | +9.2 days | +0.7% |
| Raleigh, NC | +11.8 days | +0.1% |
This runs against the usual assumption that a slowing market is a declining one. It points instead to a market where inventory is still tight enough to hold prices up, but where buyer hesitation, driven by mortgage rates and affordability limits, is stretching out the time it takes to close. For sellers in these eight markets, the likely outcome is that you still get your price, but you wait longer for it.
Markets where both prices and selling times moved the wrong way tell a different story. Dallas, Austin, and Tampa all saw median prices slip from 2024 to 2025 while homes sat longer. Those markets may be in the earlier stages of a more traditional correction, where slower sales eventually pull prices down.
What This Data Means for Home Sellers in 2026
The data points to a few practical takeaways for anyone thinking about selling this year.
Build more time into your plan. Across the 15 markets, the middle of the pack now runs about 46 days, and markets like San Antonio, Austin, and Phoenix are well above that. If your move is tied to a specific date for a job or another life change, exploring your selling options early gives you the most flexibility. Some sellers choose a cash offer to lock in a firm closing date and skip the uncertainty of an open-ended listing. With Offerpad, you pick your closing date, anywhere from 8 to 60 days out. You can request your cash offer and compare it against listing before you decide.
List in spring if you can. Homes sold in late spring and summer move meaningfully faster than homes sold in winter. Nationally the difference is roughly two to three weeks, and in markets like Austin and Indianapolis it is even larger. If timing is flexible, aiming for a summer sale can shorten the wait.
Price accurately from the start. There is a strong link between overpricing, longer time on the market, and eventual price cuts. In nine of these 15 markets, more than a third of the homes for sale had already cut their asking price at least once before selling. Understanding your home’s current value before you set a list price helps you avoid that trap.
Know your local market. The difference between Indianapolis (about 18 days, with roughly 23% of homes selling above list) and San Antonio (about 72 days, with about 15% above list) is large. National headlines often miss these city-level gaps. The costs of selling a home vary just as much as the timelines, and understanding both is part of making an informed decision.
Methodology: This analysis uses market-wide metro-level data from the Redfin Data Center for single-family homes, current as of May 2026, across 15 metropolitan markets where Offerpad operates. Current figures reflect May 2026; historical comparisons use May snapshots for 2023, 2024, and 2025 and full-year averages for 2023 through 2025. All statistics represent market-wide activity, not Offerpad transactions. Columbia, SC is not covered by the Redfin metro tracker and is excluded from these rankings. Information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Markets analyzed: Atlanta, GA; Austin, TX; Charlotte, NC; Columbus, OH; Dallas, TX; Houston, TX; Indianapolis, IN; Jacksonville, FL; Las Vegas, NV; Orlando, FL; Phoenix, AZ; Raleigh, NC; San Antonio, TX; St. Louis, MO; Tampa, FL.
About the source data: Figures are drawn from the Redfin Data Center’s metro market tracker, which publishes monthly aggregated housing metrics including median sale price, median days on market, share of homes sold above list price, share of listings with a price cut, sale-to-list ratio, months of supply, and median price per square foot. Metric values are re-derived from the public Redfin dataset and will differ from any single brokerage or listing service.
