The best time to buy a home is arriving just in time

Homebuyers have one shred of hope on their side right now: timing.

According to Realtor.com, September 27 to October 3 is the best week nationwide to buy a home, according to listing data. “That window has consistently landed in early fall, and this year it arrives a bit earlier than the past couple of years, as inventory and price reductions both peaked earlier,” says economist Hannah Jones.

Here’s what this window stacks in your favor:

• 3.5% lower prices compared to the seasonal peak, which can add up to roughly $14,000 in savings on the typical $416,000 house.
• 13.3% more listings than average—basically a buffet of options and less reason to settle.
• 14.4% fewer buyers than usual, leaving more elbow room and less competition at open houses.
• 64 days before homes typically go under contract—13 more days than during peak season, giving buyers actual time to think, breathe, and consider their next move.

“Home shoppers heading into fall will find an opportunity that has been hard to come by in recent years: more choices and less urgency,” explains Jones.

A small break in an otherwise brutal year

Let’s face it: Homebuyers need all the help they can get right now. Mortgage rates crossed the dreaded 7% threshold for the first time in over a year—and could climb even higher now that the Fed decided to hike rates this week for the first time in over three years.

Meanwhile, home prices have also remained stubbornly high, creating a painful combo that’s convinced many buyers to throw in the towel. But this also means that the few who stick with it have more leverage. While the last week of September offers the best mix of choice and value, the weeks that follow in October may offer fewer homes but steeper discounts as sellers get desperate to strike a deal before the holidays. As Jones explains, “Shopping earlier in the fall may provide the broadest selection of fresh listings, while waiting later in the season may bring additional price flexibility.”

Location matters, too. Although September 27 kicks off the best week nationwide (and in 14 of the top 50 largest US metros), this optimal window shifts based on where you’re shopping. In New York City, the best week to buy (September 6 to 12) arrives the earliest and has already passed. Miami is the latest, with peak conditions arriving November 29 to December 5.

Check out the best time to buy near you.