Should You List Over the Holidays or Wait for Spring?

By Randy Richardson, Broker Associate, The 4th Right Team

Quick Answer: On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, listing over the holidays means fewer buyers but much less competition. In the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula metro, December 2025 had 422 new listings, the fewest of any month that year and about 41% fewer than April 2025's 718, according to Realtor.com. But buyers slow down too. January 2026 had 541 homes go pending, compared to 837 in April 2026. Homes sit longer in winter, but they still sell. Real buyers shop in December, and many sellers do best listing in late January or February, just ahead of the spring rush.

Every fall, sellers ask me the same thing. "Should I list now or wait until spring?" The honest answer depends on your timeline and your house. But the Coast market does follow a pattern, and it's worth seeing before you decide.

Do homes sell over the holidays on the Mississippi Gulf Coast?

Yes, just more slowly. In December 2025, 586 homes in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula metro were pending, meaning under contract, per Realtor.com. That's fewer than spring, but it's hundreds of families buying houses between Thanksgiving and New Year's.

The buyers who shop in December usually aren't browsing. They're relocating for a job, starting a new school term, closing before year-end for tax reasons, or they just sold and need a place. A buyer who tours a house on December 20 is usually a serious one.

The pace does slow. The median active listing in the metro had been on the market 86 days in January 2026, compared to 74 days in April 2026, per Realtor.com. In early 2025, the gap was wider, 88 days in January against 60 in April.

Is there less competition if I list in winter?

A lot less. December is the slowest month of the year for new listings on the Coast, and it has been three years running. Realtor.com counted 360 new metro listings in December 2023, 376 in December 2024 and 422 in December 2025.

Compare that to spring. April 2025 brought 718 new listings, and March 2026 brought 676. In spring, your house is one of hundreds that just hit the market. In December, it's one of a few.

Total inventory follows the same pattern. The metro had 1,817 active listings in January 2026, rising to 1,993 by May 2026 and 2,071 by July 2026, per Realtor.com. More listings means more homes for a buyer to compare against yours. If your home needs to stand out, winter gives it fewer neighbors to beat.

Why do so many Coast sellers wait for spring?

Because that's when buyers show up in force. January 2026 had 541 metro homes go pending. By April and May 2026, that number hit 837 each month, about 55% higher, per Realtor.com. More buyers means more showings and a better shot at multiple offers.

But spring buyers have more choices, too. They can afford to be picky. And an overpriced spring listing still sits. It just sits next to more competition. Here's what actually makes a Coast home harder to sell, in any season.

Hurricane season plays a part here too. It ends November 30, and carriers can pause new policies when a named storm is in the Gulf. A winter contract doesn't carry that risk. A spring listing that closes in June or July might.

When is the best time to list a house on the Coast?

For a lot of sellers, it's late January through February. Pending sales jumped from 541 in January 2026 to 698 in February 2026, about 29% in one month, per Realtor.com. New listings didn't catch up until March. That short window gives you rising buyer demand before the spring wave of competing listings.

If you want to use it, do the prep work now. Get repairs and a pre-listing inspection done in November and December. Take photos before the holiday decorations go up, or after they come down. Then list the week the calendar turns.

If your timeline is tighter, listing in November or December can still work well. It just rewards the right price on day one. Winter buyers have fewer homes to choose from, but they also have more time to wait if yours is priced high.

What should I do if I list over the holidays?

Price it right from the start. With fewer buyers, a price cut in January costs you momentum you can't get back. Look at recent sales, not asking prices. Then check the market snapshot for your area.

Stay flexible. Buyers shopping around the holidays may want a longer closing, a rent-back or help with costs. A seller credit is often cheaper than a price cut. Fall and winter buyers also expect more room to negotiate. Here's how negotiating changes on the Coast in fall.

Keep the house easy to show. Decorate lightly, keep walkways lit and say yes to showings, even on short notice. The buyer who calls on December 23 is usually the one ready to write an offer.

If you're buying your next home too, the season affects that side as well. Here's how to decide whether to sell first or buy first.

By the Numbers

422: new metro listings in December 2025, the fewest of any 2025 month (Realtor.com)
718: new metro listings in April 2025 (Realtor.com)
541: metro homes pending in January 2026 (Realtor.com)
837: metro homes pending in April and in May 2026 (Realtor.com)
29%: jump in pending sales from January to February 2026 (Realtor.com)
86 vs. 74: median days on market for active metro listings, January vs. April 2026 (Realtor.com)
1,817 vs. 1,993: active metro listings, January vs. May 2026 (Realtor.com)
November 30: last day of hurricane season

The Bottom Line

Winter on the Coast has fewer buyers, but the ones out there are serious, and your house has far less competition. Spring brings more buyers and more listings fighting for them. If you can wait a few weeks, late January through February is often the best of both. If you can't, a well-priced holiday listing still sells. Start with a free home value estimate, then let's look at how I'd list your home for the season you pick.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it a bad idea to sell a house during the holidays?
Not on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. December has the fewest new listings of the year, so your home faces less competition. Homes do take longer to sell in winter, so pricing it right from day one matters more.

What month do the most homes go under contract on the Mississippi Gulf Coast?
Spring is the peak. In 2026, pending sales in the Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula metro hit 837 in both April and May, according to Realtor.com, compared to 541 in January.

How long does it take to sell a house on the Coast in winter?
Longer than in spring. The median active listing in the metro had been on the market 86 days in January 2026, compared to 74 days in April 2026, per Realtor.com.

Should I wait until spring to list my house?
It depends on your timeline and your house. Many sellers do best listing in late January or February, when buyer activity is rising and new listings haven't caught up yet. If you need to move sooner, a well-priced holiday listing still sells.

Sources

Realtor.com via FRED, New Listing Count, Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula MS: new listings by month, December 2023 through August 2026
Realtor.com via FRED, Pending Listing Count, Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula MS: pending listings by month, December 2025 through May 2026
Realtor.com via FRED, Median Days on Market, Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula MS: January and April 2025 and 2026
Realtor.com via FRED, Active Listing Count, Gulfport-Biloxi-Pascagoula MS: active listings, January through July 2026
NOAA National Hurricane Center: Atlantic hurricane season ends November 30

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About the Author
Randy Richardson is a Broker Associate and Team Leader of The 4th Right Team at CENTURY 21 J. Carter & Company. He serves buyers and sellers across the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Randy Richardson | Broker Associate
The 4th Right Team | Century 21 J. Carter & Company
📞 Office: (228) 731-3881 | Cell: (228) 547-9999
📧 realtorrandyrichardson@gmail.com
🌐 www.The4thRightTeam.com

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