Days on Market describes how long a listing was on the market before it sold under the dataset's rules. A sold-to-list or sale-to-list price ratio compares the sale price with the relevant list price. A ratio near 100% means the sale price was close to that list price; above or below 100% does not, by itself, tell you whether the seller made a good decision or whether the overall market is strong or weak.
Key Takeaways
- Days on Market (DOM) measures how long a listing was active before selling.
- Sold-to-list ratio compares sale price to list price as a percentage.
- Above or below 100% isn't automatically good or bad — context matters.
- Definitions of both metrics can differ by data source, so always check the provider's methodology.
Days on Market
Days on Market (DOM)
How long a listing was on the market before it sold, according to that particular dataset's rules for counting time.
Sold-to-list ratio
Sold-to-list (sale-to-list) ratio
Sale price ÷ relevant list price × 100
A worked example
Say a home lists at $700,000 and sells for $686,000:
| Sale price | List price | Calculation | Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| $686,000 | $700,000 | 686,000 ÷ 700,000 × 100 | 98% |
A ratio of 98% simply means the sale price landed close to — slightly under — the list price used in the calculation. It doesn't by itself say whether that was a strong or weak outcome.
Why the definition matters
Important
Definitions can differ meaningfully by data source. A provider might use the original list price or the most recent list price if it changed; treat a relisted property differently when calculating market time; or handle cumulative days on market differently across relistings. When future market statistics are published on this site, they'll use — and state — the exact data provider's definitions rather than a generic one.
Context that shapes both metrics
Property type, geography, sample size and the time period covered can all shift DOM and sold-to-list figures substantially. A citywide average tells you very little about how a specific property type in a specific area is performing.
Neither metric stands alone
DOM and sold-to-list ratio are most useful read together, and alongside other context — not interpreted individually as a verdict on a specific property or a specific seller's decision. This site does not currently publish live local market statistics; see our Home Pricing guide for how a pricing strategy is actually developed.
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