If you’ve listed your home recently and noticed it’s been sitting on the market for a few weeks, take a deep breath. The calendar isn’t your enemy, it’s just catching up with reality. For the last few years, we’ve been spoiled by lightning-fast home sales. A home could hit the market on a Thursday, rack up multiple offers by Friday, and be under contract by that night. It was exciting for some, and exhausting for most. Those days were fueled by record-low interest rates and an inventory shortage so tight that buyers were practically racing each other to the front door.
But the market has matured. Inventory levels have been climbing steadily, giving buyers more choices and sellers more competition. The result? Homes are taking a little longer to sell. Instead of a bidding war in 24 hours, we’re seeing a more traditional timeline, often around 30 days or more with the average in our market coming in at 39 days.
That’s not a sign that the market is weak. In fact, it’s a sign of balance. A balanced market is one where buyers and sellers negotiate realistically, homes are priced according to real value and everyone gets a little breathing room. It’s also where we tend to see the healthiest appreciation over time; steady, predictable and sustainable.
For sellers, this shift simply means adjusting expectations. A home that’s well-priced, well-maintained and properly marketed will still sell… it just might not happen overnight. Patience and preparation are now the new power tools in real estate. For buyers, this market offers a refreshing change. You finally have time to schedule a second showing, ask thoughtful questions and make decisions without feeling rushed. You might even get to negotiate the price – remember that concept?
So if your home’s been on the market for a few weeks, please don’t panic. Talk with your Realtor, keep the faith and know your home will sell. The 30-day mark doesn’t mean it’s “stale,” it means it’s part of a normal, functioning market again. And that’s something we’ve all been hoping to see.
After all, balance isn’t boring – it’s healthy. And in real estate, healthy markets build healthy communities.
Billy Morris
2025 President of the Lynchburg Association of Realtors
An Associate Broker at John Stewart Walker, Inc.