Selling Your Home? Here’s Why It’s Taking Longer
Fargo–Moorhead home-selling services by Modern Market REALTORS® — proven strategy, faster closings.
By Shannon Barnum, Fargo Real Estate
West Fargo — Remember when planting a “For Sale” sign meant a bidding war by sundown? Those pandemic-era glory days are gone—buried under higher rates, pickier buyers, and a market colder than a Manhattan sidewalk in
January. If you’re staring at your Zillow listing like a bad blind date, you’re not alone. As of October 2025, the average home is sitting about 58 days—up from 51 last year and a far cry from the 16-day sprints of 2021. Inventory’s piling up, buyers are playing hard to get, and wishful pricing is meeting hard reality.
Reason #1: Mortgage Rates Are Still a Wallet-Wrecker
Let’s start with the elephant in the room—the ~6.3% 30-year fixed. That’s roughly double the COVID-era lows, and it adds hundreds per month to a typical payment. Buyers notice, and many are sitting out until rates move decisively lower. Affordability has been stretched, particularly for first-timers, shrinking the pool and lengthening days on market.
Lock-In Effect: Roughly four out of five mortgaged owners hold sub-6% loans. Trading a 2–3% note for today’s rate feels like swapping cheap gas for $6 a gallon—so would-be sellers stay put. As more eventually list, competition rises and time-to-sell can stretch.
Sell My House Pro Tip: If price integrity matters, offer a temporary rate buydown (e.g., 2-1) or a targeted lender credit. You’ll widen the buyer pool without slashing list price.
Reason #2: Inventory Has Swelled—Choice Slows Sales
Compared with the skinny-jeans inventory of 2021, active listings are up notably. Months of supply has climbed toward a more balanced market, and in many Sun Belt metros the jump is even more pronounced. When buyers have options, they get picky—floor plans, finishes, and location details matter more, and “nice but generic” lingers.
Regional Roulette
Former hotbeds—select suburban belts and certain Southern metros—are now packed with look-alikes. Even competitively priced homes can wait if ten similar models are around the corner.
Sell My House Pro Tip: Launch 3–5% under the best true comp if speed matters. Pair it with an offer-review date to create urgency without overplaying your hand.
Reason #3: Sellers Are Stuck in 2021—Overpricing
The most expensive mistake in 2025? Pricing like it’s still the frenzy. Anchoring to peak-era sales reduces showings, stigmatizes the listing, and leads to bigger cuts later. A large share of homes linger past 60 days because the first price was the wrong price.
Sell My House Pro Tip: Get a pre-list appraisal or a data-rich CMA and price for today’s market. One clean price beats three public cuts.
Reason #4: Deal Fallout—Inspections & Financing
You finally get an offer… then the inspection report lands with a thud, or underwriting spooks the buyer. With more choice out there, buyers walk at the first whiff of risk—aging roofs, suspect HVACs, or deferred maintenance.
Sell My House Pro Tip: Do a pre-inspection, fix fast-fail items, disclose clearly, and include a one-year home warranty. You’ll steady nerves and reduce retrades and cancellations.
Reason #5: Economic Jitters = Buyer Paralysis
Inflation has cooled from the peak, but uncertainty about policy, jobs, and future rate moves keeps wallets cautious. Headlines about tariffs, input costs, and sector layoffs amplify the “wait and see” impulse—especially for first-time and move-up buyers.
Sell My House Pro Tip: Spotlight energy-efficient upgrades, recent big-ticket replacements (roof, furnace, windows), and low-cost ownership data. “Future-proof” sells in uncertain times.
Reason #6: Seasonality—Fall/Winter Is Tougher
Post-summer, urgency fades: school’s back, holidays loom, and weekend priorities shift. Historically, winter DOM runs longer, and premiums over asking drop. You can still win—but you need better presentation and terms.
Sell My House Pro Tip: Lean on twilight photography, detailed floor plans, high-quality virtual tours, and flexible close/possession to pull in off-season shoppers.
Reason #7: Condition & Prep—Deferred Maintenance Hurts
Cosmetic dings and obvious repairs now carry a real tax on speed and price. Buyers equate peeling paint with “money pit.” Small make-readies deliver outsized returns.
ROI Quick Wins: Fresh neutral paint, lighting and hardware swaps, landscaping refresh, deep clean, and clear rooms for scale.
Sell My House Pro Tip: Stage to the likely buyer (starter, downsizer, family). Professional staging routinely boosts perceived value and shortens DOM.
Reason #8: Weak Digital Marketing = Invisible Listing
Ninety percent of buyers start online. Dim photos, vague copy, and no floor plan? Swipe left. Listings with professional photography, a tight narrative, and 3D/VR tours capture more views, more saves, and faster offers.
Sell My House Pro Tip: Use pro photos, a measured headline, neighborhood highlights (schools, parks, commute), a scannable feature list, and targeted social/retargeting ads. It’s the cheapest speed you can buy.
Wrapping It Up: Sell Smart, Not Slow
2025 is slower, pickier, and pricier to navigate—not impossible. Price to the market you have, prep like a pro, and market like you mean it. If speed is paramount, structure incentives before you slash price. With rates stabilizing and inventory normalizing, a more balanced market could emerge into 2026. Until then, execution wins.
Editor’s note: Market snapshots referenced in this column reflect widely reported figures from national housing trackers and mortgage rate aggregates as of October 2025.
New Homes For Sale Horace ND
IDX MLS IDX Listing Disclosure © 2025
The data relating to real estate for sale on this web site comes in part from the Broker Reciprocity SM Program of the Regional Multiple Listing Service of Minnesota, Inc. The information provided is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Properties subject to prior sale, change or withdrawal. ©2024 Regional Multiple Listing Service of Minnesota, Inc All rights reserved.
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FAQ: Why Selling Your Home in 2025 Is Taking Longer
Why is selling your home in 2025 taking longer than ever?
Days on market (DOM) are up as higher mortgage rates cool demand, inventory has risen, buyers are choosier, and more deals die in inspection/financing. Pricing discipline and prep matter more than in 2021.
Pro Tip: Launch at a data-driven price, bundle a small rate buydown/closing credit, and publish a clean pre-inspection summary.
How do ~6.3% mortgage rates affect my sale?
Payments are hundreds higher vs. 3% era, shrinking the buyer pool and stretching DOM.
Pro Tip: Offer a 2-1 buydown or a fixed seller credit tied to the buyer’s rate lock to protect your list price.
What’s the “lock-in effect,” and why does it matter?
Most owners hold sub-6% loans and hesitate to list, which distorted supply. As more finally list, competition rises and DOM stretches.
Pro Tip: Pre-market 2–3 weeks: repairs, staging, photography, and a “coming soon” cadence to build demand.
Is inventory really up in 2025—and how should I adjust?
Yes—active listings and months of supply are higher than last year, giving buyers leverage.
Pro Tip: If speed matters, price ~3–5% under the most recent, truly comparable sale and set an offer review date.
Am I overpricing? What’s the cost of missing the mark?
Overpricing leads to fewer showings, stale days, and larger eventual cuts than starting right.
Pro Tip: Get a pre-list appraisal/CMA and align list price to today’s comps, not 2021 highs.
Why are more deals falling through now?
Inspections uncover deferred maintenance; tighter affordability makes buyers skittish and underwriting stricter.
Pro Tip: Do a pre-inspection, fix fast-fail items, disclose clearly, and include a 1-year home warranty.
Does seasonality hurt fall/winter listings?
Yes—buyer activity dips after back-to-school and around holidays, pushing DOM higher.
Pro Tip: Lean on virtual tours, twilight photos, and flexible close/possession terms to widen the buyer pool.
How much do condition and prep actually matter?
Homes needing cosmetic/repair work sell materially slower and attract discounts.
Pro Tip: Fresh neutral paint, lighting swaps, landscaping refresh, and deep clean = small spend, big speed.
Why is digital marketing make-or-break in 2025?
Nearly all buyers start online; weak photos/copy kill engagement.
Pro Tip: Pro photography, floorplan + 3D tour, neighborhood highlights, and targeted social/retargeting ads.
What incentives beat a blunt price cut?
Rate buydowns, closing credits, prepaid HOA, or appliance packages preserve comps and feel larger to buyers.
Pro Tip: Advertise the monthly savings (“Seller pays to reduce your rate by 2% year one, 1% year two”).
