I have long felt that October is a great time to buy a home and Realtor.com recently predicted that the week of October 12-18 is the national sweet spot for buyers this year. Inventory levels typically peak in early fall, competition is lower and prices are less with more price reductions.
It isn’t the same in all metro areas, and they predict the best week for the Minneapolis-St. Paul area will be October 26 – November 1, 2025.
- Average # listings over average: 22.3%
- Days on market vs peak: +17 days
- Median list price vs peak: -9.7%
Demand has cooled and homes are taking longer to sell so buyers have more breathing room and are not as pressured to make rush decisions. Less competition means sellers are more likely to be willing to negotiate rather than receiving multiple offers over asking price compared to peak season. And there typically are more price reductions in October as sellers (and buyers) want to close before the inevitable arrival of snow and ice.
Despite slower activity than earlier in the year, October consistently has enough new listings to give buyers opportunities to find a house that fits their needs before the drop in November and December to the end of the year.
While it still isn’t a buyer’s market, conditions are more balanced and interest rates are lower than they were earlier in the year, improving affordability. October is an opportunity month, with enough inventory so you have choices, as well as lower prices with less competition.
Sharlene Hensrud, RE/MAX Results – shensrud@homesmsp.com
