By KeyCrew Media
Homeowners in Fairfield County, Connecticut who have been thinking about selling are facing a familiar question as the year winds down: list now, or wait for the spring market?
Kristin Egmont, a Coldwell Banker Realty agent who has been licensed and active in Connecticut since 2003, says the answer depends less on the calendar and more on the home, the competition, and where the seller is going next.
“If people have been waiting to list, the question is, what are you waiting to improve?” Egmont said. “If you need time to prepare the house or figure out your next move, that’s a good reason. But waiting purely because you assume the spring will bring a better price is a gamble.”
What Has Changed Since Summer
Egmont says the market has shifted even in the past few months. Over the summer, more buyers were actively looking. Now, with rates higher, she hears more hesitation.
“The more buyers I talk to now at the interest rates, it’s more of a pause,” she said.
At the same time, more homes are coming to market. “There’s a lot of inventory coming on the market right now,” she said. “I see more inventory now than I ever have.”
That matters for anyone counting on spring. “Spring may move more buyers, but it also brings more listings, and we don’t know where the interest rates are going to be,” Egmont said.
Three Questions That Decide the Timing
For sellers weighing fall against spring, Egmont focuses on three things: how ready the house is, what it would compete against, and where the seller is going next.
Sellers with a clear reason to move, such as relocating, downsizing, or moving out of state, may be better served by acting now. Sellers who need time to find their next home, or who could meaningfully improve the property first, may benefit from waiting.
“If the home is ready and the move makes sense, there could be a good opportunity before year end,” she said. “If a few months would allow us to make meaningful improvements and launch much better, waiting may be worthwhile.”
Before recommending any launch date, she looks at what that particular home would compete against today, rather than relying on general conditions across a town or price range.
An Outlook, Not a Guarantee
Egmont is careful when asked to forecast early 2027. She expects the market to remain strong in Connecticut, but says the shape of that strength is uncertain.
“My working expectation is a gradual adjustment rather than a sudden reset,” she said. “But that’s an outlook, not a guarantee.”
She won’t promise lower mortgage rates or a broad decline in Fairfield County prices, and she points out that easing rates would affect both sides of the market. “If rates ease, that could bring more listings, but it could also bring more buyers back into the market,” she said.
What the Past Five Years Have Taught Her
After more than two decades in the business, Egmont says the recent cycle reinforced how quickly the assumptions behind a market can change. One lesson stands out: higher rates don’t automatically produce lower prices.
She has also seen how much today’s buyers value a home that feels ready. She recently spoke with a buyer shopping around $800,000 who said the homes at that price weren’t exciting them, and that they would rather buy a waterfront condo in Miami than a Connecticut house that still needed work.
“People want to feel like they’re getting something for their money, not just a roof over their head,” Egmont said.
That has changed how she advises sellers. “We need to plan the sale and the next move together,” she said. “Getting a strong offer is only part of the success. The timing, the terms, and where you’re going afterward matter just as much.”
Answers to common seller questions are available on Egmont’s seller FAQs page.
About The Expert: Kristin Egmont is a licensed real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Realty, serving buyers and sellers across Fairfield and New Haven Counties, Connecticut. With more than 20 years of local market experience, she is known for her strategic approach, professional marketing, and hands-on client service. Learn more at kristinegmont.com.
This article is based on information provided by the expert source cited above. It is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or real estate advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals before making any real estate or financial decisions.
