Sellers often ask us when the best time to list is. There’s no perfect month for every home, but the county record can show when sales actually close here. We counted every recorded sale on Clearwater Beach, Sand Key and Island Estates from 2021 to 2025, five full years, by the month the sale closed.
Closings by month, 2021 to 2025
| Month | Recorded sales (five years combined) |
|---|---|
| January | 177 |
| February | 204 |
| March | 287 |
| April | 270 |
| May | 238 |
| June | 239 |
| July | 192 |
| August | 182 |
| September | 143 |
| October | 174 |
| November | 155 |
| December | 176 |
March had the most closings, with 287 across the five years, followed by April with 270. September had the fewest, with 143, followed by November with 155. May and June were also busy, each with just under 240.
Year by year
| Year | Recorded sales | Busiest month | Quietest month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 756 | March and April (87 each) | September (38) |
| 2022 | 483 | March (72) | November (20) |
| 2023 | 488 | June (67) | January (23) |
| 2024 | 393 | March (44) | September (21) |
| 2025 | 317 | May (38) | November (15) |
The busiest month moved around from year to year: March in 2021, 2022 and 2024, June in 2023 and May in 2025. The quietest months were in late summer, fall or early winter every year.
Why closing month is not listing month
A recorded sale date is the day the sale closed, not the day the home went under contract, and certainly not the day it was listed. Contracts usually come several weeks before closing, and a home is on the market for a while before that. So a busy March and April for closings means a lot of buyers were writing offers in the winter months, when many seasonal visitors are here and touring homes.
Every year was different
The five-year total hides big differences between years. In March 2021 the county recorded 87 sales in the area, while March 2025 had 27. Overall volume was highest in 2021 and lower in the years since, so it’s worth reading the pattern as a general rhythm rather than a forecast.
What the county record can’t tell you
Recorded sales show when deals closed and at what price, but not how long homes were on the market, how many showings they had, or whether sellers cut their price along the way. Those details come from the multiple listing service and from experience. When we talk to sellers about timing, we look at the county record alongside what’s on the market now in their building or street.
What we’d suggest
- Be ready before the winter season. If your timing is flexible, having the home prepared, photographed and priced by the time winter visitors arrive puts it in front of the largest pool of buyers.
- A quieter month can still work. Fewer closings also means fewer competing homes. A well-presented home at the right price can sell in any month.
- Plan around your own life. Moves, tax timing and the next purchase often matter more than the calendar. Our guide to what it costs to sell in Pinellas County helps with the numbers.
- Think about summer. Hurricane season runs from June to November, and insurance questions can slow some deals. Preparing your paperwork early helps.
A countdown for a winter listing
- Eight to ten weeks out: talk to an agent about price and timing, and book any repairs or painting.
- Six weeks out: gather documents, including permits, a wind mitigation report, association documents for a condo, and your flood disclosure answers.
- Four weeks out: declutter, deep clean and finish small fixes. Our seller’s guide has more ideas.
- Two weeks out: professional photos, video and floor plan.
- Launch: go live with a clear price and be flexible with showings during the first weeks, when interest is usually highest.
If you’re selling and buying
Sellers are often buying too, either on the beach or somewhere new. If that’s you, think carefully about the order of the two moves. Selling first gives you certainty about your budget, while buying first means you only move once. A sale with a later closing date, or a rent-back for a few weeks after closing, can help bridge the gap. Talk it through with your agent and lender before you list.
For the latest monthly figures, see our February 2026 market report and our look at five years of condo and single-family sales. When you’re ready, our seller’s guide covers the process, and our home value estimator is a good first step. You can also list with us.
Sources
- Pinellas County Property Appraiser qualified sales for Clearwater Beach, Sand Key and Island Estates, sales recorded for January 2021 to December 2025, counted by sale month. Counts include every qualified, improved, single-parcel sale, new construction included.
- National Hurricane Center, Atlantic hurricane season dates.