You find a home you love. The price works. The neighborhood is exactly where you want to be. Then you notice one little detail on the listing:
90 days on market.
Immediately, the questions start.
Why hasn’t anyone bought it? Is something wrong with the house? Is it overpriced? Did another buyer back out? Or could this actually mean there’s room to negotiate?
The short answer is: a home sitting on the market for 90 days is not automatically a red flag. In today’s Arizona market, it could actually be an opportunity.
And this is one of those situations where context matters much more than the number itself.
First, 90 Days Isn’t as Unusual as You Might Think
If you bought a home a few years ago, your idea of a “normal” real estate market may be a little skewed.
We got used to homes hitting the market and receiving offers almost immediately. When that was happening, seeing 60 or 90 days on market definitely caught your attention.
That’s not necessarily the market we’re in today.
As of August 2026, homes across Arizona were spending a median of about 67 days on the market, according to Realtor.com data.
And the number can vary considerably depending on the specific area, price point and type of property. Recent Phoenix-area data has shown homes in some Valley communities taking 70, 80 or even 90+ days to sell.
So when I see 90 days on a listing, my first thought isn’t necessarily, What’s wrong with it?
My first question is, why has it been sitting?
Why Would a Good House Sit for 90 Days?
There are plenty of reasons a home can accumulate days on market without there being something fundamentally wrong with it.
Maybe it started out overpriced.
Maybe the seller reduced the price after several weeks, and it’s now positioned much better than it was originally.
Maybe the listing photos didn’t do the home justice.
Maybe it went on the market during a slower period.
Maybe it’s in a higher price range with a smaller pool of buyers.
Or maybe buyers simply have more choices.
That’s why I wouldn’t rule out a property based solely on days on market. Instead, I want to look at the entire listing history.
When 90 Days Can Become an Opportunity
This is where things get interesting for buyers.
The longer a home has been available, the more information we have.
We can look at its original price, any price reductions, comparable sales, competing homes and what has happened in the neighborhood since it was first listed.
And sometimes, a seller whose home has been sitting for several months may be more willing to have a conversation.
That doesn’t automatically mean they’ll accept a huge lowball offer. But longer days on market can create more room to negotiate, something Redfin also identifies as a potential advantage for buyers looking at longer-DOM properties.
And price isn’t the only thing you can negotiate.
Depending on the seller and the situation, there may be opportunities to discuss closing costs, repairs, a home warranty, certain personal property, closing dates or other terms that matter to you.
That’s why I’d rather investigate the opportunity than immediately swipe past it.
But Sometimes Days on Market ARE Telling Us Something
There is a difference between being cautious and assuming the worst.
If a home has been sitting for 90 days, I want to understand why.
Has it repeatedly gone under contract and come back on the market?
Have there been significant price changes?
How does the current price compare with similar homes that have actually sold?
Are there condition issues?
Does the property have an unusual feature that limits its buyer pool?
Are there HOA considerations?
And, most importantly, what do the disclosures and inspections tell us?
Arizona’s buyer guidance specifically encourages buyers to review the seller’s disclosures carefully and investigate anything unclear or important to them. It also recommends considering qualified professionals for areas such as the general home inspection, HVAC, roof, pool, pests and other property-specific concerns.
In other words, days on market should make us ask questions, not make assumptions.
Don’t Confuse a Stale Listing With a Bad House
This is probably the biggest mistake I see buyers make with older listings.
After scrolling through homes online for weeks, you start recognizing the same properties.
“Oh, I’ve seen that one. It’s been sitting forever.”
And you keep scrolling.
Meanwhile, something may have changed.
The seller may have reduced the price. A competing property may have sold. Market conditions may have shifted. The house may now make much more sense at $425,000 than it did when it originally came on the market at $475,000.
That’s why I occasionally encourage buyers to go back through listings they’ve previously dismissed.
The home didn’t necessarily change.
The opportunity might have.
So, Should You Consider a House That’s Been Listed for 90 Days?
Absolutely.
You should also do your homework.
I wouldn’t tell a buyer that 90 days means they’re automatically getting a deal any more than I’d tell them it means something is wrong with the house.
I’d want to know:
What did it originally list for?
Has the price changed?
Has it previously been under contract?
What have comparable homes actually sold for?
What else can you buy for the same amount right now?
Is there anything about the property’s condition or history we need to investigate?
And how motivated is the seller?
Those answers tell us much more than the little “90 days on Zillow” number ever could.
Sometimes the Homes Everyone Else Skips Are Worth a Second Look
Arizona’s current market is giving buyers something they didn’t always have a few years ago: time to think and, in some situations, room to negotiate.
That doesn’t mean every older listing is a hidden gem. Some are overpriced. Some have condition issues. Some simply aren’t the right house.
But others?
They may just be waiting for the right buyer to take another look.
So if you’ve found a home in Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Avondale, Surprise, Waddell or elsewhere in the West Valley that’s been sitting for a while, don’t let the days on market scare you away before you know the story behind them.
Send it my way. I’ll help you dig into the listing history, look at the numbers and figure out whether those 90 days are a warning sign or an opportunity worth exploring.
