Northeast Valley Real Estate Insights – March 2025

Last month I tackled the question, “How much would my home sell for?”

Remember that many factors need to be considered: current market conditions for your specific area; the condition and location of your home; relevant comparable sales; seasonality; marketing; and your own urgency.

This month, let’s answer another common question: “How long would it take to sell my home?” This also requires looking at several factors which impact a key statistic called Days on Market (DOM) which is how long it takes to get an offer accepted on a home.

Looking at homes priced between $1 -5 million in the 5 ZIP Codes that make up the Scottsdale/Northeast Valley area (85255, 85262, 85266, 85331, 85377), in January the Average Days on Market for homes that sold was 97 days, and the Median was 63 days. As I write this, February Average DOM is at 134 days and Median is 63 days.

For homes priced below $1 million in the same ZIP Codes, the Average DOM in January was 72 days and the Median was 62 days.

Also note that Days on Market only counts how many days it takes to get an offer accepted. It doesn’t include the 30-45 days it typically takes to actually close the transaction.

What would cause a home to sit on the market longer than similar homes? The condition of your home matters. Buyers will overlook a home in need of numerous repairs or updates. Try to be objective and ask yourself, “What would make a buyer hesitate to buy my house?”

Have you priced your home correctly? If a home is priced well above its perceived market value range (also known as “aspirational pricing”) it will take longer or may not sell at all.

Seasonality also matters. It could take longer to sell in the summer months because there may not be as many qualified buyers in town.

January through March is historically the core of our “high season” when many potential buyers are here. The snowbirds are back; vacationers are here for events such as the Barrett Jackson Auto Auction, Waste Management Phoenix Open, Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show, and now Spring Training.

How many other homes are you competing against? The supply of homes has been gradually increasing. In these same five ZIP Codes, currently there are more than 1,200 homes for sale, up from 1,100 in January and 850 last August.

How can you differentiate your home from other comparable homes? Your home has a better chance of selling faster if it is professionally marketed and presented in its best possible light.

An experienced REALTOR® with local market knowledge and marketing expertise is a valuable asset and trusted advisor when it’s time for you to make your next real estate move.

Darrell Doepke is a full-time, RealTrends Verified Top 1% Realtor® in Arizona (2024), specializing in Carefree, Cave Creek, and North Scottsdale luxury homes. With a background in marketing and journalism, Darrell tells each home’s story to grab buyers emotionally. His narrated property videos showcase this strategy, and he invests more in marketing than most agents. He lives by his motto: “I don’t wait for buyers — I pursue them.” Darrell is VP of Community Partners and founder of Community Fest, an October event supporting local nonprofits. He is known for his SRES® designation assisting seniors; his Midwest values, and community leadership. Clients often say he’s the best Realtor® they’ve worked with.