If you are a home seller, from a purely statistical point of view, the concise answer is December and January.   The rationale behind the answer is there are fewer houses for sale during that period of time, therefore, less competition between sellers, the greater potential for a higher sale price.  While there may be fewer buyers looking for a home during that period of time, there are always people who must buy a home due to leases maturing, people who recently sold their present homes and relocating employees who begin their new employment during the first part of the year.

For decades, the real estate industry has perpetuated the myth that the Spring is the best time of year for sellers to sell their home.  Statistically, not so.  Generally, there is a sharp increase in the number of houses for sale in the Spring, thus, increasing the competition between home sellers.

From a home buyers point of view, generally, the Spring and early Summer months.  This is the period of time when there is a swell of homes which enter the market as seen in the graph to the left above.  Buyers will have a greater number of houses from which to choose with, generally, lessening competition for houses during that time.