Spring selling window open
This spring is a critical window to list — Realtor.com’s 2026 timing guidance flags this period as peak for exposure — and buyers are willing to pay up for smart‑home tech, dedicated home offices, energy‑efficient appliances and wellness spaces. The Hamptons is already seeing activity lift — contracts are up 19% year‑over‑year — so inventory and demand are heating up. ( )
Realtor.com’s analysis pins April 12–18, 2026 as the national “Goldilocks” week to list, based on a Best Time To Sell score that compares weekly metrics from 2018–2024 and weights listing price, days on market, price reductions and buyer demand. (realtor.com) Homes listed in that mid‑April window have historically commanded about 1.3% higher prices than the average week and roughly 6.6% higher than at the start of the year, a gap Realtor.com’s report says could translate to roughly $26,000 more for sellers who list then. (nar.realtor) Zillow’s 2026 feature analysis finds lifestyle and turnkey amenities deliver the biggest premiums, with certain features linked to up to a 5.4% boost in sale price — about $19,500 on the typical home in their sample. (zillow.com) Zillow breaks the lifts down further: quartzite countertops correlate with a 5.3% premium, outdoor kitchens with +4.4%, outdoor showers +4.3%, bespoke/custom features +3.2%, and golf simulators +2.7% versus similar listings without those items. (zillow.com) Local market evidence of early spring heat shows up in the Hamptons: 25 listings went into contract the week of March 17, 2026 versus 21 the same week in 2025 — a 19% year‑over‑year rise — while dollar volume for the week climbed to $101 million from $67 million, a 51% increase. (hamptons.com) That Hamptons update also notes 33 new listings hit the market that week, leaving total East End inventory at 1,615 listings (1,280 active, 335 in contract) and a transaction breakdown ranging from one sale over $20 million to three sales under $1 million. (hamptons.com)
