What does days on market mean?
Days on market is how long a home is listed before it goes under contract or sells. Reported as a median for an area, it shows how fast homes are moving. Fewer days usually means more competition among buyers; more days usually means more room to negotiate. Data sources measure it slightly differently.
Updated November 2026. A plain-language definition, not legal advice.
How it works
Realtor.com reports the median days a listing has been active in a month. Redfin reports the median days from listing to going under contract for homes sold that month.
A single home's days on market can reset if it is relisted, so a long history may hide behind a low number.
Median days on market in the markets we track
Median days from listing to contract for homes sold in the month, all home types, from Redfin.
| County | Cities | Median days on market |
|---|---|---|
| Clark County, Nevada | Las Vegas, Henderson | 58 daysSep 2026 |
| Washoe County, Nevada | Reno | 54 daysSep 2026 |
| Washington County, Utah | St. George | 65 daysSep 2026 |
| Salt Lake County, Utah | Salt Lake City | 46 daysSep 2026 |
| Dallas County, Texas | Dallas | 49 daysSep 2026 |
| Collin County, Texas | Plano, Frisco | 74 daysSep 2026 |
| Tarrant County, Texas | Fort Worth | 52 daysSep 2026 |
| Harris County, Texas | Houston | 56 daysSep 2026 |
| Travis County, Texas | Austin | 83 daysSep 2026 |
| Bexar County, Texas | San Antonio | 80 daysSep 2026 |
Source: Redfin, a national real estate brokerage. County-level figures.
What to watch
Rising days on market plus more price cuts is a common sign that buyers are gaining room.
Compare with the same month a year ago and with the US figure.
Questions people ask
What does days on market mean?
Days on market is how long a home is listed before it goes under contract or sells. Reported as a median for an area, it shows how fast homes are moving. Fewer days usually means more competition among buyers; more days usually means more room to negotiate. Data sources measure it slightly differently.
What is a good days on market number?
There is no single good number. It depends on the area and the season. Compare a county's median with its own figure a year ago and with the US median.
Related terms
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