Methodology

How the Sell Score works

The Sell Score combines real-time supply data, year-over-year pricing trends, buyer demand indicators, and sale velocity metrics. Each signal is normalized to 0-100 using actual ranges observed across 2,890 US cities, then weighted by its predictive importance for sellers.

7 signals. Weighted by impact.

1

Inventory Tightness

20%

How many months it would take to sell all current listings at the current pace of sales. Lower supply means more competition among buyers and stronger leverage for sellers.

MeasuresMonths of Supply
1 month (very tight)
7+ months (oversupplied)
2

Price Momentum

20%

Year-over-year change in median sale price. Rising prices signal strong demand — your home is likely worth more than it was last year.

MeasuresMedian Sale Price YoY
+27% year-over-year
-18% year-over-year
3

Seller Leverage

15%

How close homes sell to their asking price. Above 100% means sellers are getting more than they ask — buyers are competing to win.

MeasuresSale-to-List Ratio
101%+ (above asking)
95% (significant negotiation)
4

Bidding Activity

15%

Percentage of homes selling above list price. When multiple buyers bid up the price, it's a clear signal of excess demand.

Measures% Sold Above List
45%+ of homes
0% of homes
5

Sale Speed

10%

How quickly homes go from listed to under contract. Faster sales mean higher demand and less risk of sitting on the market.

MeasuresMedian Days on Market
28 days or less
118+ days
6

Market Urgency

10%

Percentage of homes going under contract within two weeks of listing. High urgency means buyers are ready to act fast.

Measures% Pending in 2 Weeks
50%+ of listings
0% of listings
7

Price Stability

10%

Percentage of listings with price reductions. Fewer drops mean sellers can hold firm on their asking price without fear of stagnation.

Measures% with Price Drops
0% (no drops needed)
36%+ (frequent drops)
+

Confidence Adjustment

Markets with very few active listings can produce misleading signals — a single above-asking sale in a town with 2 listings doesn't mean the same thing as in a city with 200. To account for this, scores are regressed toward the national average for markets with fewer than 50 active listings. The fewer the listings, the stronger the regression. Markets with 50+ listings receive their full, unadjusted score.

Full confidence50+ active listings
EffectPulls score toward ~55 (national avg)

What your score means

Scores map to five tiers based on how favorable conditions are for sellers right now.

Exceptional

90-100
2 cities

One of the strongest seller's markets in the country. Low inventory, rising prices, and homes selling fast — often above asking. If you've been considering selling, conditions are about as good as they get.

Strong

70-89
186 cities

Conditions strongly favor sellers. High demand, competitive bidding, and fast sales. Well-priced homes should move quickly with strong offers.

Moderate

50-69
1,433 cities

A balanced market with opportunities for well-priced homes. You can still sell successfully, but pricing strategy and presentation matter. Expect reasonable timelines.

Cooling

30-49
960 cities

The market is shifting toward buyers. Strategic pricing, staging, and marketing become more important. Ridley's flat fee helps you keep more equity when margins are tighter.

Emerging

1-29
309 cities

A buyer-friendly market with higher inventory and longer timelines. Selling is still possible, but every dollar of savings matters — which is exactly why paying $3,499 instead of $15,000+ makes a difference.

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