List This Fall or Wait for Spring? What Central Ohio's Seasonal Data Actually Shows

Every October I hear the same question: should I list now, or wait until spring when the market picks up? The conventional wisdom says spring, and it is not wrong about buyer traffic. But buyer traffic is only half of the equation. The other half is how many homes those buyers are choosing between.

I compared last November with this past April using Columbus REALTORS® MLS data. The results are more nuanced than the old rule of thumb.

Fall vs. Spring, Side by Side

• Buyers going under contract: 2,146 homes in November 2025 vs. 2,923 in April 2026. Spring clearly has more buyers.
• New listings hitting the market: 2,218 in November vs. 3,992 in April. Spring also has nearly 80% more fresh competition.
• Contracts per new listing: about 0.97 in November vs. about 0.73 in April. In other words, each new fall listing faced less head-to-head competition for buyers.
• Median days on market: 40 in November vs. 39 in April. Essentially a tie.
• Share of original list price received: 95.7% in November vs. 97.9% in April. This is where spring does have an edge.

What That Gap Is Worth

On a home originally listed at $400,000, the average outcomes work out to roughly $382,800 in November and $391,600 in April, a difference of about $8,800. That is real money, but it is an average that includes overpriced listings that sat and took reductions. Well-priced, well-prepared homes routinely beat those averages in any season.

Now weigh what waiting costs. If you have already bought your next home, or you are paying two sets of utilities, taxes, and insurance, five months of carrying costs can easily match or exceed that gap. And there is one more variable: Central Ohio inventory reached 6,124 homes in August, up 6.8% from a year ago. If that trend holds, spring 2027 sellers may face even more competition than this spring did.

Fall Makes Sense If...

• Your home is ready to show now, with repairs done and the yard in reasonable shape.
• You are carrying a second home, relocating, or simply ready to move on.
• You are willing to price to recent closed sales from day one rather than test the market.
• You want buyers who are serious. Fall shoppers are often driven by job moves, leases ending, or year-end timing.

Waiting for Spring Makes Sense If...

• Your home needs updates that will take months to finish.
• Your yard, landscaping, or outdoor living space is a major selling point.
• Your timeline is flexible and carrying costs are not a factor.

You are in a school district where many buyers plan moves around the school calendar. 

Bottom Line

Spring has more buyers, but it also has far more competing listings, and fall listings faced less head-to-head competition per new home. Spring sellers did capture about two points more of their original list price on average. If your home is ready and you price it right the first time, listing this fall is a strong option. If it needs work or your timeline is flexible, a well-planned spring launch is a smart alternative.

Margaret Lipp, REALTOR® | REMAX Premier Choice

Serving Upper Arlington, Dublin, Worthington, Clintonville, Hilliard, Powell, Grandview, and all Central Ohio communities



Data source: Columbus REALTORS® Local Market Updates (Entire MLS) for November 2025, April 2026, and August 2026, based on Columbus & Central Ohio Regional MLS residential data. Seasonal comparisons reflect different months and years and are illustrative. Dollar examples are hypothetical averages, not a valuation of any specific home.