These Housing Markets Experience the Largest Seasonal Price Changes

The U.S. housing market traditionally follows seasonal trends, with prices rising in spring and summer and cooling in the fall and winter. The COVID-19 pandemic briefly disrupted this pattern, as low mortgage rates and demand for larger homes due to remote work led to elevated prices year-round. According to Construction Coverage, in the past couple of years, seasonal patterns have started to return, though it remains much more prevalent in regions with harsh winters, such as in the upper Midwest and Northeast. States in these regions—including Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan—have seen average seasonal home price swings of more than 20% from 2014 to 2023.

Mountain West and Sun Belt states tend to show less variation, led by Arizona with just an 8.8% difference between summer and winter sales prices. While many of the locations with less variation have temperate climates year-round, another factor may be competition. These states have also been fast-growing in recent years, and as a result, may have more consistent demand for homes across the seasons. Additionally, these states tend to attract visitors in the winter months—whether it be to participate in winter sports (as is the case for Colorado and Utah) or to enjoy warmer weather (as is the case for Arizona, Hawaii, and Florida). Read more