Most sellers assume the holidays are the worst time to list. Fewer buyers are out, and nobody wants a showing during Christmas dinner. But selling a home in Omaha during the holidays can work well if you have a reason to move and price it right.
I’m Lacory Gordon, a REALTOR with Revel Realty in Douglas, Sarpy, Washington, and Cass counties. This one is for sellers deciding whether to list in November or December. I checked the sources below on Oct. 23, 2026.
Key takeaways
- December 2025 had 981 new listings in the Omaha area, less than half of May 2025, yet still 622 pending sales.
- January 2026 new listings jumped to 1,499, so listing before New Year’s means less competition.
- Nationally, December sales typically beat November by about 3.9% (NAR).
- Spring often pays a little more, so the holidays make most sense when your move has a deadline.
- Keep decor light and walks clear, and plan your closing around Dec. 25 and Jan. 1.
What the Omaha numbers say about holiday listings
I start with local data. The Great Plains REALTORS MLS reports on the Omaha Area Region, which covers Douglas, Sarpy, Washington, Dodge, and Saunders counties, three Iowa counties, and several nearby ZIP codes. Here is last holiday season for all homes, new and existing:
- Less competition. Just 981 new listings came on in December 2025, down from 1,196 in November and 2,095 in May 2025.
- Buyers kept buying. December still had 622 pending sales and 917 closed sales.
- Homes still moved. They sold in 28 days on average and got 98.8% of list price.
- January brings a crowd. In January 2026, new listings jumped to 1,499 and days on market rose to 36.
That last point matters. List after New Year’s and you join the January wave. List in November or early December and you are one of a much smaller group of homes in front of buyers who need to move. Heading into this season, the September 2026 report showed about 2.6 months of supply and a $325,000 median closed price, so well-priced homes are still selling.
Why holiday buyers tend to be serious
Nobody tours houses on a cold December night for fun. The National Association of REALTORS found December existing-home sales typically run about 3.9% above November, driven by January job relocations, year-end tax planning, and families timing a move for the new school term. Inventory typically drops about 9.4% from November to December, making it usually the month with the fewest listings.
NAR also found first-time buyers make up a slightly bigger share in December while all-cash buyers pull back. In my experience, that means more financed buyers with real deadlines and fewer investors fishing for a discount. The catch: homes usually spend longer on the market in December than November, so price it right from day one.
Should you wait for spring instead?
If you have no timeline, spring often pays a little more. Zillow’s 2026 Best Time to List analysis found homes listed in the last two weeks of May 2025 sold for about 1.7% more nationally (Omaha was not one of the 35 metros studied). Locally, homes received 100.0% of list price in May 2026, compared with 98.8% in December 2025.
But Zillow also notes most sellers can’t time the market, because life events drive the move. If you are relocating, already bought your next place, or settling an estate, waiting has its own price: more mortgage payments, utilities, and snow removal on a house you are trying to leave. Start with a realistic number. Here is how I figure what your Omaha home is worth.
Decorate lightly and stage for the photos
- Shoot listing photos before you decorate. A tree in the photos looks stale by mid-January.
- Keep it simple. One tree, a wreath, warm lights. Store the inflatables and anything blocking walkways.
- No lit candles during showings. NFPA reports candles started 49% of home decoration fires in December. Flameless ones work fine.
- Warm and bright. Keep the heat comfortable and every light on.
Winter buyers and inspectors look hard at the furnace, gutters, and outside faucets, so finish my Omaha fall home maintenance checklist before you list.
Safe walkways and easy showings
Under Omaha Municipal Code Sec. 34-332, the owner and the occupant must clear snow and ice from the sidewalk within 24 hours after the city declares major-street snow removal complete, leaving a clear path at least four feet wide. Snow can’t go back into the street. If the city does it for you, the cost can be billed to the property, starting at $3.16 per running foot of sidewalk. Omaha Public Works also suggests ice melt on stairs and steep walks.
For showings, I go further: clear the driveway, salt the steps, leave exterior lights on, and set out a boot mat. Block the days that matter to your family and keep the rest open. A relocating buyer may only have one weekend.
Plan your closing around the calendar
Per the federal holiday schedule, Thanksgiving is Thursday, Nov. 26, 2026, Christmas Day is Friday, Dec. 25, 2026, and New Year’s Day is Friday, Jan. 1, 2027. A financing buyer’s lender must deliver the Closing Disclosure at least three business days before closing, so a holiday week leaves less room if anything slips. If you need to close by year-end, tell me up front so we can build in a buffer and set a possession date that gives you time to move.
To estimate your net, see my Omaha closing costs guide. If the house needs work you don’t want to tackle in winter, read my as-is home sale guide. And to see the other side, here is my guide to buying a home in Omaha in winter.
FAQ
Is it a bad idea to sell a house during the holidays in Omaha?
Not necessarily. In December 2025 the Omaha area MLS logged 917 closed sales, and homes sold in 28 days on average at 98.8% of list price. There are fewer buyers than in spring, but far fewer competing listings too.
Should I wait until spring to sell my house in Omaha?
If you have no deadline, spring often pays a little more. If your move is set for winter, waiting means months of extra carrying costs on a house you are trying to leave.
Do I have to take down my Christmas decorations to sell?
No. Keep them light, take listing photos before you decorate if you can, and skip lit candles during showings.
Will buyers really look at homes in December?
Yes. NAR found December home sales typically run about 3.9% above November, driven by job relocations, year-end tax planning, and school-term moves.
Can I close on my Omaha home in late December?
Usually, with planning. Christmas Day is Friday, Dec. 25, 2026, and New Year’s Day is Friday, Jan. 1, 2027, so build in extra lead time with the lender and title company.
Who has to shovel the sidewalk while my house is listed?
Inside Omaha city limits, both the owner and the occupant must clear the sidewalk within 24 hours after the city declares major-street snow removal complete. Outside the city, check with your HOA, SID, or local government.
General information only, not legal, tax, or lending advice. Market figures are from Great Plains REALTORS MLS Omaha Area Region reports (all homes), NAR, and Zillow; city rules from the City of Omaha. Checked Oct. 23, 2026. Past results do not guarantee future sales.
Thinking about listing before the new year?
I can pull recent sales for your neighborhood, give you a price range, and plan a listing and closing around your holidays in Douglas, Sarpy, Washington, or Cass County. Call or text 402-297-6625 or email lacoryg@revelne.com. You can also reach me on my contact page.
Lacory Gordon, REALTOR
Revel Realty
1313 Harlan Dr, Bellevue, NE 68005
