Should I Take my Home Off the Market in Summer?

Housing market activity in summer

With summer holidays approaching, some home sellers are getting anxious about lingering listings. They’ve been asking me: “Should I take my home off the market during the slower summer months to avoid racking up days and making it look stale?” The short answer? It depends. (I know, not what you want to hear—but stick with me, we’ll break it down.) It really comes down to location and price point. In this article we discuss the best time to sell a house and when is the worst time to sell a house.

The Coral Gables Market

$1M-$3M: While July and August were slower in 2022 and 2023, 2024 shows a clear upward shift. If this trend continues, pulling your listing during summer could mean missing motivated buyers in a less competitive market. The bottom line: July and August are no longer dead months in Coral Gables — and July, in particular, is proving strong.

• Strongest Months based on the last three years: 1. February, 2. March and 3. May
• Weakest Months based on the last three years: 1. October, 2. December and 3. July

$3M-$5M Over the past three years, July and August consistently saw the fewest homes go under contract — typically 3 or fewer each month. If your home hasn’t sold by July and interest has been low, it may make sense to pause your listing and relaunch in the fall when buyer activity tends to pick up. Just keep in mind that July through September are generally the slowest months, so you’d likely be off the market for a while. But if you’ve had steady traction, it may be smarter to stay listed and capture the buyers who are still active in a less crowded market.

• Strongest Months based on the last three years: 1. April, 2. May and 3. October
• Weakest Months based on the last three years: 1. September, 2. August, and 3. July

$5M-$10M Based on the past three years, July and August are among the slowest months for homes going under contract (although not in the top 3)— typically with just 1 to 4 deals. While July 2024 saw a slight bump, overall summer activity remains low. If your property hasn’t gained traction by July, it may be worth pausing your listing and relaunching in the fall when buyer activity picks up. But if you’re getting steady interest, staying on the market in a less competitive environment could still work in your favor.

• The Strongest Months: 1 March, 2. April, and 3.February
• The Weakest Months:  1. May, 2. June and 3. December

The Pinecrest Market

$1M-$3M: Based on the data from the past three years, July and August show moderate activity. While these months are not the strongest, they still see a decent level of buyer interest compared to some slower months like September and November. So, taking a home off the market in July and August isn’t necessarily advisable—especially if the property is well-priced and presented, as you could still attract serious buyers during this period.

• Strongest Months based on the last 3 years:  1. February, 2. May and 3. April
• Weakest Months based on the last 3 years: 1. September, 2. July and 3. October

Note: July and October show some variability, but generally remain slower compared to peak months like February and April.

$3M-$5M:Based on the data from the past three years, July consistently show some of the lowest numbers of homes going under contract. August and September however are among the strongest months. So in case you would take your home off the market be sure to put it back in August!

• Top 3 strongest months: 1. February, 2 August and 3. September
• Top 3 weakest months:.1. July, 2. October, and 3. November

$5M-$10 Based on the data from the past three years, July shows very low activity with 0, 1, and 2 homes going under contract in Pinecrest, while August has steadily increased from 1 to 6 contracts, indicating growing buyer interest. Given this, it might be wise to consider keeping your home on the market in August, especially if you’ve had some traction, but July could be a slower month where pausing your listing might make sense.

• Top 3 Strongest Months: 1. August, 2 March and 3 April / November (both tied)
• Top 3 Weakest Months: 1 July, 2 May, 3 September / December (both tied)

The Miami Beach Market

$1M-$3M Based on the data from the past three years, July and August show mixed activity—July remains relatively steady with 6 to 11 homes going under contract, while August is notably slower, especially in 2024 with only 1 contract. This suggests that while July can still be an active month, August tends to be weaker. If your home hasn’t gained much traction by July, it might be wise to consider taking it off the market in August and relaunching in the fall when buyer activity picks up again.

• Top 3 strongest months: 1. March, 2. June, and 3. November
• Top 3 weakest months: 1. August, 2. December, and 3.October

For the $3M–$5M range, data from the past three years shows that July and August experience average activity. Although these months aren’t the slowest, they have fewer contracts compared to peak months like March and April. The market remains relatively steady from July through October, while winter months historically see lower activity. Given these trends, there’s no strong reason to take your property off the market during the summer.

• Top 3 strongest months: 1. March, 2. April, and 3. June
• Top 3 weakest months: 1.October, 2. December, and 3. November

$5M-$10M: Based on the data from the past three years, July and August show very low activity, with only 0 to 2 homes going under contract, making these some of the slowest months of the year. Given this, it might be wise to consider taking your property off the market during July and August, especially if it hasn’t gained much traction. Instead, relaunching when buyer activity picks up, such as in April or February, could improve your chances of a successful sale.

• Top 3 strongest months: 1. March, 2. April, 3. February
• Top 3 weakest months: 1. July, 2.August, and 3. November

Should I take my home off the market in summer?

Across the three price ranges, there is a clear pattern: the lower the price range, the more consistent buyer activity is during the summer months, while higher price brackets tend to see slower sales in July, with some recovery in August. The differences in summer market activity across price ranges can be explained by the distinct motivations and lifestyles of buyers in each segment. Buyers in the $1–3 million range are often primary homeowners or families relocating for jobs or schools, so their need to buy remains urgent even during summer months when children are out of school. In contrast, buyers in the $3–5 million range tend to be more strategic and have greater flexibility, often treating summer as a time for travel or downtime rather than house hunting. For buyers in the $5–10 million range, purchasing decisions are even less time-sensitive; they are usually ultra-high-net-worth individuals who may own multiple properties and prioritize lifestyle over urgency. These buyers often spend summers traveling or at second homes, making summer a slower period for high-end sales. Therefore, summer tends to be a stronger market for lower and mid-tier buyers who must act on timing, while higher-end segments see less activity as buyers are more discretionary and patient.

• For homes priced between $1M and $3M, summer months like July and August maintain moderate activity. Buyers in this segment often include move-up families, professionals, and investors who might be motivated to close deals before the new school year or the fall season. These buyers generally have more immediate needs and less flexibility to wait, keeping summer transactions steady.
• In the $3M to $5M range, July is slower, but August and September show strong activity. Buyers here often have more discretion on timing and may prefer to pause during July holidays but return quickly afterward. This creates a noticeable dip in July but a rebound in August and early fall.
• At the $5M to $10M level, July is consistently the slowest month, with some pick-up in August. Buyers at this luxury level typically have greater financial flexibility and may treat summer as a vacation or downtime period, leading to fewer deals in July. However, as summer winds down, activity picks up as these buyers refocus on serious transactions.

Connect with David

If you’d like insights into your specific property or summer activity in a particular neighborhood, contact David Siddons today at 305.508.0899 or schedule a meeting via the application below