Every listing carries a quiet signal buyers read before they ever read the description: how long it's been sitting.

Days on market is simply the count of days between a home hitting the MLS and going under contract. But what it communicates goes much deeper. A home that's been listed for five days gets urgent, competitive showings — buyers read freshness as desirability. The same home at ninety days gets a different reaction: "What's wrong with it?" — even when the honest answer is "the price was off and the seller just adjusted it."

This is why pricing right from day one matters so much. The first week or two is when a listing gets the most eyes: new-listing alerts, the first wave of showings, the peak of the platform's attention. Homes priced to that window tend to draw the strongest response. Homes that start high and chase the market downward tend to sit, collect small price drops, and then sell for less than they would have with a sharp initial price.

For buyers, days on market is a negotiating data point. A fresh listing at full ask leaves little room to maneuver. A listing that's been sitting for months often tells you the seller is tired, motivated, and more open to concessions — as long as your offer is serious and well structured.

For sellers, it's a reality check worth heeding before you list: overpricing doesn't just cost you time. Stale listings sell for less and hand buyers leverage you gave them yourself.

The market speaks clearly through this one number — if you're willing to listen before you price.

What's your rule of thumb — how many days on market is "too long" before you'd start asking hard questions?