As the weather cools and the holidays approach, many homeowners start to wonder if it’s worth listing their home now—or if they should wait until spring. Buyers, on the other hand, often ask, When’s the best time of year to make a move?

To help answer that, we’ve spent the past few years studying how monthly listing and contract activity align. The results are always interesting.

The data included focuses on single-family homes in and around Bozeman (excluding Belgrade) over the past four years. The “New Listings” column shows how many homes were newly listed each month—but keep in mind, this doesn’t represent total inventory. Unsold homes from previous months remain active and contribute to the overall supply.

The “New Contracts” column tracks homes that went under contract—when buyers and sellers agreed in writing to a sale. This is a great indicator of buyer activity, as it shows when people are actually making offers, not just when sales finally close.

The “Avg DOM” (Average Days on Market) measures how long homes took to ‘go pending’ that month. Because many months show an average over 30 days, it’s clear that active inventory extends beyond just the newest listings.

Of course, market behavior isn’t shaped by the calendar alone. Over the past few years, factors like interest rates, the pandemic, and election cycles have removed some of the traditional seasonality. In a typical year, though, buyer activity tends to awaken with the first signs of spring. Longtime locals know that spring can vary from golf courses opening in February to snowbanks still lingering in April.

Early in the year, when motivated buyers start looking, there is often a shortage of listings. Many sellers are still finishing home projects or waiting for the yard to green up, so their listings don’t hit the market until June or July. By mid-summer, supply often catches up—or even surpasses—buyer demand.

Each season has its own pros and cons. Spring and summer bring more buyers—but also more competition from new listings. Winter offers less inventory, but it can also mean less buyer competition. Some data shows that the fourth quarter often has one of the highest percentages of new listings going under contract, challenging the belief that winter is a slow time for real estate.

So, what’s the takeaway? The best time to move is often the time that works best for you. Some people dread a winter move; others have to relocate for a job, or spot their dream home and act fast. One hidden perk of winter listings is that buyers who are out shopping then are usually serious—not just “window shopping.”

For buyers, you never know when the perfect home will appear. The key is to be ready—get pre-approved, understand your market, and act decisively when opportunity knocks.

This analysis doesn’t account for price reductions, canceled or reactivated sales, or carryover inventory, but it provides a snapshot of local buyer and seller activity. Big Sky Country MLS, pulled on 10/13/25.