When Time on Market Changes Negotiation

Not long ago I was involved in a transaction where a property first entered the market around the mid-$500,000 range.

Over the course of several months, the listing remained active and accumulated more than 100 days on market. By the time the property eventually changed hands, the final price had moved significantly from the original list price, and the seller also contributed toward closing costs.

Situations like this are not unusual when a property stays on the market for an extended period. As time passes, buyers begin to interpret a listing differently. New inventory appears, expectations shift, and negotiation dynamics change.

For buyers, extended time on market can create opportunities that might not exist during the first few weeks of a listing.

For sellers, it highlights how strongly the market responds to pricing, positioning, and timing when a property is first introduced.

Every situation is different, but time on market often becomes one of the most powerful forces influencing how a transaction ultimately unfolds.