Days on Market (DOM)

In depth

Days on Market (DOM) counts the days from listing date to contract acceptance. Cumulative DOM (CDOM) tracks the total across re-listings to prevent gaming. Misconception: lower DOM is not always better; an extremely fast sale may suggest underpricing. Practically, average DOM varies by market, with hot markets seeing 7 to 14 days and slower markets exceeding 90 days. FSBO sellers should benchmark their listing's DOM against market averages and consider price reductions if exceeding average DOM by 50 percent or more. Long DOM signals overpricing, poor presentation, or marketing issues. Buyers can use long DOM as a negotiation lever. Owner-financing offerings often shorten DOM dramatically by expanding the buyer pool to those without bank approval.