If your home was listed for sale when the coronavirus pandemic escalated, you might have joined the ranks of many sellers and taken your home off the market. At the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak, stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines led many to believe there was no viable way to sell a home in the current climate.

However, thanks to a rapid pivot by real estate professionals across the country, consumers have been buying and selling homes despite coronavirus-related restrictions. By implementing virtual tours and virtual open houses, along with digitizing much of the transaction process, savvy agents and sellers have been able to close deals in the many states where real estate was deemed an essential business.

And now, as states begin to reopen for business, the timing might be even better to put your home on the market...or back on the market. According to the Weekly Housing Trends Report from realtor.com® for the week ending May 9, after several weeks of near 40 percent declines year-over-year, new listings made a significant jump back with a -29 percent decline year-over-year.
 
If you’re anxious to sell your home, talk to your local real estate professional about why this could be a great time to sell. Consider the following:

- With total inventory down 19 percent year-over-year, according to the realtor.com® report, you’ll have less competition on the market.
- Buyers in the current marketplace are usually highly motivated, either because of the need to relocate quickly, or because of the investment opportunity today’s climate presents.
- Uncharacteristically low interest rates are presenting new opportunities for buyers who might have previously felt homeownership was unaffordable.
- Although median listing prices are still growing at a slower pace than prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, they are expected to regain some momentum in the coming weeks as states reopen and relax restrictions. In the most recent three weeks ending April 25, May 2 and May 9, the median U.S. listing price posted an increase of 1.6 percent, 1.6 percent and 1.4 percent year-over-year, respectively.
- While people have been staying at home, home search activity is increasing online, creating new exposure for your for-sale home.
- As real estate professionals have quickly developed expertise in marketing your home virtually and providing safe environments for showings in states where they’re allowed, you can now have peace of mind that your home will be sold effectively and safely.

Discuss the specifics of your particular situation and market with an experienced real estate professional in your area. Local expertise is more important than ever!