If you’ve been on the sidelines, now’s the perfect moment to jump in. This October is shaping up to be the best time to buy a home in 2025. Realtor.com reports that it will offer the most buyer-friendly conditions of the entire year.

““By mid-October, buyers across much of the country may finally find the combination of inventory, pricing, and negotiating power they’ve been waiting for—a rare opportunity in a market that has been tight for most of the past decade.”
”

— Realtor.com

If you’re ready and able to buy right now, aiming to close within this month means you can expect to:

• You’ve got more homes to pick from.

• There aren’t as many buyers competing with you.

• You can take your time shopping around.

• Prices are looking better.

• And sellers? They’re often more open to negotiating.

Keep in mind, every housing market is unique. For many of the 50 largest metro areas, the best time to buy tends to be in October. However, depending on your location, the ideal buying window might be a bit earlier or later. As Realtor.com points out:

““While Oct. 12–18 is the national “Best Week,” timing can shift depending on the local markets. . .””

— Realtor.com

When is the best week to buy a home in the top 50 largest metro areas? Let’s break it down so you can time your purchase just right.

• Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell, GA: September 28 – October 4

• Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos, TX: September 28 – October 4

• Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD: October 12 – 18

• Birmingham, AL: October 19 – 25

• Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH: October 26 – November 1

• Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY: October 12 – 18

• Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC: November 2 – 8

• Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN: September 28 – October 4

• Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN: October 12 – 18

• Cleveland, OH: October 12 – 18

• Columbus, OH: October 12 – 18

• Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX: September 28 – October 4

• Denver-Aurora-Centennial, CO: October 12 – 18

• Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI: October 12 – 18

• Grand Rapids-Wyoming-Kentwood, MI: September 28 – October 4

• Hartford-West Hartford-East Hartford, CT: September 21 – 27

• Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX: October 12 – 18

• Indianapolis-Carmel-Greenwood, IN: October 26 – November 1

• Jacksonville, FL: October 26 – November 1

• Kansas City, MO-KS: October 12 – 18

• Las Vegas-Henderson-North Las Vegas, NV: October 5 – 11

• Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA: October 12 – 18

• Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN: November 2 – 8

• Memphis, TN-MS-AR: September 21 – 27

• Miami-Fort Lauderdale-West Palm Beach, FL: November 30 – December 6

• Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI: September 7 – 13

• Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI: October 26 – November 1

• Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN: October 12 – 18

• New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ: September 14 – 20

• Oklahoma City, OK: October 12 – 18

• Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL: October 26 – November 1

• Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD: September 7 – 13

• Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ: November 2 – 8

• Pittsburgh, PA: October 12 – 18

• Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA: October 26 – November 1

• Providence-Warwick, RI-MA: October 19 – 25

• Raleigh-Cary, NC: October 12 – 18

• Richmond, VA: October 26 – November 1

• Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA: September 28 – October 4

• Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA: October 12 – 18

• San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX: October 12 – 18

• San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA: October 12 – 18

• San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA: October 12 – 18

• San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: October 19 – 25

• Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA: October 19 – 25

• St. Louis, MO-IL: October 12 – 18

• Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL: November 30 – December 6

• Tucson, AZ: October 12 – 18

• Virginia Beach-Chesapeake-Norfolk, VA-NC: September 21 – 27

• Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV: October 12 – 18

 What the Experts Are Saying

Realtor.com isn’t the only one pointing out that moving now is a great opportunity. Lawrence Yun, the Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), shares his take on why this moment is worth considering.

““Homebuyers are in the best position in more than five years to find the right home and negotiate for a better price. Current inventory is at its highest since May 2020, during the COVID lockdown.”
”

— Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR)

Daryl Fairweather, the Chief Economist at Redfin, explains it this way:

““Nationally, now is a good time to buy, if you can afford it . . . with falling mortgage rates and significantly more inventory, buyers have an upper hand in negotiations.””

— Daryl Fairweather, Chief Economist at Redfin

And according to NerdWallet:

““This fall just might be the best window for home buyers in the past five years.”
”

— NerdWallet

How To Get Ready for this Golden Window

To be ready to dive in when the best time to buy hits your market, reach out to a local agent now. They can share insights on when the market peaks, explain why that timing works in your favor, and guide you through the steps to get prepared.

Bottom Line

If you’re serious about buying, getting ready for the October market is a smart move.

Need a hand getting your strategy in place? Let’s chat briefly so you have all the info to be ready for this prime buying season.