Chase StewartREALTOR® · eXp Realty

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Seller's Guide · Scottsdale and the Phoenix metro

The Valley Home Seller's Guide

Selling a home in the Valley usually takes 2 to 3 months from listing to closing: some weeks on the market, then 30 to 45 days of escrow. In any market, accurate pricing and good presentation decide how fast you sell and what you net. This guide covers every step, written for Scottsdale and the Phoenix metro.

Written by Chase Stewart, REALTOR® with eXp Realty · Last reviewed October 2026

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Read the sections in order or jump to the one you need. Each answers the questions sellers ask me most, with Arizona details a national guide won't have.

1. Market and timingWhere the Valley market stands now and the best months to list.2. Home value and pricingHow a CMA works, why online estimates miss, and how to set your list price.3. Choosing a listing agentWhat to ask, what a listing agreement covers, and how commissions work now.4. Prep, staging, and marketingWhich fixes pay off, what to skip, and how your home gets seen.5. The Arizona selling processDisclosures, the 10-day inspection period, and the contract timeline.6. Negotiating offersHow to compare offers and handle repair requests.7. Seller closing costsWhat sellers pay in Arizona, line by line, with a $500,000 example.8. Closing and after the saleSigning, prorations, capital gains, and your moving checklist.

How to read the market

The market shifts month to month, so it helps to know how to read it. Months of supply is the number of months it would take to sell every listed home at the current pace: fewer months favors sellers, more favors buyers, and around 5 to 6 is often treated as balanced. The share of listings with a price cut shows how often sellers are misjudging the market. New listings show how much fresh competition is coming. Sale price as a percent of list price shows how close homes are selling to their final asking price.

Whatever the market is doing, homes priced right from the start sell, and overpriced homes sit and then get cut. I'll pull the numbers for your street before we set a price.

Common questions

How long does it take to sell a house in Scottsdale and the Valley?

Plan on roughly 2 to 3 months from listing to closing: some weeks on the market, depending on your price range and area, then usually 30 to 45 days of escrow. My market snapshot page shows the current median days on market for the metro, Scottsdale, and North Scottsdale ZIP codes. Overpriced homes can sit much longer.

Is it a good time to sell in the Valley?

It depends on your price range, your area, and your own plans. Check months of supply and how many listings are taking price cuts, which I post monthly on my market snapshot page. In any market, sellers who price accurately and prepare the home well sell in reasonable time.

Do I have to pay the buyer's agent in Arizona?

No. Since the 2024 NAR settlement, sellers aren't required to offer buyer's agent compensation. You can offer it, negotiate it as part of an offer, or decline. I'll show you how it affects your buyer pool before you decide.

Fees and tax rules change, so confirm current figures with me, your escrow officer, and your CPA before you rely on them.