If you are thinking about selling your home, one number you will probably hear fairly quickly is days on market, often referred to as DOM. It sounds simple. A home has been listed for a certain number of days, and that number should tell us something about how well it is selling.
But days on market needs context.
This was one of the ideas that stayed with me after attending theMLS Summit 2026 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. As I continue learning and working with MLS data, I find myself paying much more attention not only to the numbers themselves, but also to the story behind those numbers.
For a homeowner preparing to sell, that distinction can be very important.
What Does Days on Market Mean?
Days on market generally tells us how long a property has been on the market. It can be useful when looking at an individual home, but it becomes much more meaningful when we compare it with what is happening around that property.
For example, imagine that a home has been on the market for 30 days.
Is that a long time?
The answer depends on the market.
If comparable homes in the same area and price range are selling within seven or ten days, 30 days may deserve a closer look. If similar properties are regularly taking 45 or 60 days to sell, the exact same 30 days could tell a very different story.
That is why I do not think homeowners should look at days on market as a grade assigned to their home. It is one piece of information that needs to be interpreted alongside other market data.
The Neighborhood Is Only the Beginning
One of my favorite takeaways from theMLS Summit was the importance of asking “Which market?”
We often hear people talk about the Los Angeles real estate market as though it were one market. It really is not.
Even within the same neighborhood, homes in different price ranges can behave differently. Property type matters. Condition matters. Location within the neighborhood can matter. The amount of competing inventory matters too.
A home should therefore be evaluated within the market that is actually relevant to that particular property.
This is especially important in Los Angeles, where two homes located relatively close to one another can appeal to different buyers and compete against very different properties.
Active Listings Matter Too
When homeowners think about comparable properties, it is natural to focus on homes that have already sold. Those sales are important because they show us what buyers were actually willing to pay.
But I also like looking closely at active inventory.
Active listings tell us what a seller is competing against right now.
If several similar homes are available at the same time, buyers have choices. They can compare price, condition, location, photographs, improvements and overall presentation.
On the other hand, if there are very few comparable homes available, the competitive environment may look completely different.
Looking at sold properties without understanding current competition can therefore leave out an important part of the picture.
Price and Days on Market Often Need to Be Looked at Together
Days on market can also become more informative when we look at pricing history.
If a property has been sitting on the market longer than comparable homes, I would want to understand why before reaching any conclusion.
Was the original asking price significantly higher than comparable properties? Was there a price adjustment? Are buyers choosing another home nearby? Is the property unusual enough that it simply requires a more specific buyer?
There may be several explanations.
This is one reason I like the idea of using a Comparative Market Analysis as more than simply a way to arrive at a number. The data can help us understand how buyers are responding to homes in a particular market and what that may mean for a seller’s strategy.
A Longer Time on the Market Does Not Automatically Mean Something Is Wrong
I think this point is especially important for homeowners.
It is easy to see a property that has been listed for a while and assume there must be something wrong with it. Sometimes a longer marketing period can signal that the price or strategy deserves another look, but that is not the only possible explanation.
Higher priced properties may have a smaller pool of potential buyers. A unique home may take longer to find the right buyer. Market conditions can change. New competing inventory can appear. Buyer activity can also vary at different times of the year.
Rather than reacting to the number alone, I think the better question is:
What is the market telling us about this particular home?
That is a much more useful conversation.
Real Estate Data Is Most Helpful When We Put It in Context
The more I learn about MLS data, the more I appreciate how much information is available to help homeowners make thoughtful decisions.
Days on market is one of those pieces of information, but it should not stand alone.
I would want to look at comparable sales, current listings, price range, property condition, competition and what buyers appear to be doing in that specific market. Together, those pieces can provide a much clearer picture than any single statistic.
For homeowners considering selling, that context can help set realistic expectations and guide decisions throughout the listing process.
And ultimately, that is what I believe good real estate information should do: help people understand their options so they can make decisions with greater confidence.
With gratitude and a heart of service,
Claudia Backus, MBA
California Real Estate Broker | REALTOR®
Serving Pacific Palisades & the Westside
