Timing can be everything. When you put your home on the market can impact the price you get. If inventories are low and there are buyers in the market for your type and price of home you can get more than if you were competing with five similar houses in a slowing market. The time of year may impact property values as well. For example, real estate usually slows in December because no one wants to be in the market during the holidays. People usually buy in December because they have to, not because they want to, and inventories are generally lower. So sometimes December is one of the best months to get the highest price for a house. Because every situation is different, the sale of a home has to be evaluated at the time the house goes on the market, not using market conditions that are one, three, or six months old.

You need to consider all your options. Do you really need to sell? Should you sell or keep your place and rent it? What people think they need to do isn’t always what they should do — or what is best for them in the long run. You need to carefully analyze your particular situation, and you need to explore all your options before you decide to sell.