When Is the Best Time to Buy a House?

Following the housing market can feel like riding a roller coaster—one month it’s up, the next it’s down. So, when’s the right time to hop on?

Late summer and early fall are often seen as sweet spots thanks to lower prices and more homes on the market. But timing isn’t the only thing that matters. Yes, it’s helpful to understand the housing market cycles—but more importantly, you need to know if you’re financially ready.

So, let’s take a deep dive into both of those areas. That way, you’ll be set up for success as you make one of the biggest purchases of your life.

What’s the Best Month to Buy a House?

Traditionally, late summer and early fall are the best times to buy—because that’s when prices tend to ease and inventory remains relatively high. Prices usually go down in late summer and early fall, since fewer buyers are looking at homes and inventory is still pretty high after the busy spring selling season.

On the flip side, the worst time to buy a house is typically the late spring and early summer (May through July). That’s because tons of people are in the market to buy a home—which means you’ll face more competition. Many home buyers, especially those with kiddos, want to buy a home in time to get moved and settled before the school year starts.

But keep in mind: No one can predict real estate trends with 100% accuracy. So never let what month it is make or break your home-buying decision—only your financial situation can truly determine the right time for you. No matter what the market is doing, buying a house is a bad idea when you’re in debt, don’t have an emergency fund, or haven’t saved up a strong down payment.

To see the past year’s trends for yourself, check out the chart below showing existing home sales data from the past year:

What’s the Cheapest Month to Buy a House?

Home prices are usually at their lowest in winter. In fact, based on the 13-month period in the table above, home prices were at their lowest in January 2025—at a median of $393,400. So if for you the best time of year to buy a house means getting the lowest price, be sure to slip on your warm woolen mittens before you go to showings.

But remember: You want to find the sweet spot of low prices and high inventory. While prices go down during the winter, fewer houses hit the market during the busy holiday season (not to mention, some regions have the cold and snow to deal with). In the chart above, the number of homes for sale saw its greatest month-over-month drop—190,000 homes—from November to December.

Still, less demand for homes could give you some bargaining power when it comes time to make an offer on a house.

What Month Has the Highest Home Inventory?

Most houses go on the market in the spring. In 2025, the number of homes for sale nationwide shot up an additional 120,000 from March to April—the fastest growth rate all year. That number kept growing into the summer and reached 1.55 million home listings by July.

On the downside, spring and summer are also the busiest house-hunting seasons, so competition and prices will likely be at their highest. In 2025, home prices shot up $10,900 from March to April and reached their highest point of the year in June at $432,700. But if you can budget for it, it’s often worth shopping when there’s an abundance of homes on the market to choose from.

The Best Time to Buy Depends on You

Remember: Even though you can try timing your home purchase just right to find the widest selection or pay the lowest price, the best time to buy a house is when your finances are in order. Buying a home isn’t a blessing when you’re broke.

Here are the most important signs you’re ready to buy a house:

• You have zero debt and a full emergency fund. Expenses like student loans, credit card debt and car payments keep you from having the margin you need to save for a home. And once you’re in a home, you’ll need an emergency fund to cover unexpected costs when they inevitably pop up. So dump the debt and save up 3–6 months of your typical expenses for emergencies before you start house hunting.

• Your house payment won’t be more than 25% of your take-home pay. Math works in every city and every state—you don’t get a pass just because you live in a high-cost area. That 25% includes principal, interest, property taxes, home insurance, private mortgage insurance (PMI), and homeowners association (HOA) fees.

• You’ve saved up a strong down payment. Taking out a mortgage with a super low or no down payment will have you paying extra in interest and fees and keep you in debt for decades. That’s why you should save up a down payment of at least 5–10% if you’re a first-time home buyer, or 20% if this isn’t your first rodeo. Putting down 20% or more also helps you dodge PMI—an extra monthly fee that protects the lender, not you, if you can’t make your house payments.

• You can handle homeownership costs. Depending on the age of the home you buy, you could end up having to tackle several home maintenance projects in a year, costing hundreds to thousands of dollars. When you move from renting to owning a house, there’s no more landlord to fix things for you. Also, moving into a bigger space usually means your utility bill will be higher—so make sure you have room in your budget for these things.

• You plan on staying put for a while. Home buying comes with a lot of up-front costs, like upgrading appliances and renovating, that you recoup over time as the value of your home increases. But that takes time. If you love your city and plan to stay there for at least three years, buying a house is a great investment. Otherwise, stick with renting.

If each of those statements sounds like you—congrats! Now could be the best time for you to buy a house.