The extreme seasonality of the Seattle housing market

Seattle has one of the most seasonal housing markets in the country. Here's what that means for buyers and sellers right now.

The Swing

The $132,000 jump in just two months isn't a fluke. It's a feature of our market.

According to an analysis by Aziz Sunderji and Redfin, Seattle is the 3rd most seasonal housing market in the country, behind San Francisco and Boston.

Why Seattle swings so hard

According to the analysis, our seasonality is driven by dreary winters and constrained supply. "It becomes a bit like musical chairs — sellers want to list when they'll have the best chance of finding their next home, so everyone converges during the same window."

King County = deep blue on the map below — among the most seasonal counties in the country. Florida markets (Tampa, Miami) sit at the opposite extreme: warm weather and ample supply flatten the curve almost entirely.

March 2026 sales data

Inventory is up 52% year-over-year. Buyers have more choices than they've had in years, but well-priced homes are still selling in 7 days and our active buyers are running into multiple-offer situations every week.

More inventory should mean more balance in the market, but strong seasonal pressures are still resulting in a competitive spring market for detached homes near Seattle and Bellevue.

Mortgage rates

Rates are meaningfully better than last year despite recent volatility. After hitting the 6.5% mark at the end of March, we've seen easing in rates over the past few weeks.