Why Many Properties Sit 60–90+ Days on Market (And What You Can Do About It)

Properties sitting on the market for 60-90+ days face common obstacles: overpricing, limited buyer pools for land, seasonal slowdowns, and the complexity of traditional sales. Land Avion offers a Fast Cash Offer solution that bypasses these delays entirely—no fees, no commissions, we pay all closing costs. Get your offer in 2 days instead of waiting months.
If you've listed your property and watched weeks turn into months with no serious offers, you're not alone. Whether it's vacant land or a house, seeing your listing languish on the market is frustrating, expensive, and stressful.

According to the National Association of Realtors, the median days on market for existing homes reached 29 days in late 2024, but that's just the median—meaning half of all properties take even longer. For vacant land specifically, the timeline often stretches to 90 days or more, with many parcels sitting unsold for six months to a year.

So why does this happen? And more importantly, what can you do about it?

The Real Reasons Properties Sit on the Market

1. Overpricing Is Still the #1 Culprit

Let's start with the most common reason: asking too much.

When you list a property above its true market value, buyers simply scroll past. Real estate data from Zillow shows that homes priced 10% above market value take 3 times longer to sell than accurately priced properties. For land, the impact is even more severe because the buyer pool is already smaller.

Here's the problem: most sellers rely on outdated comparable sales or their own emotional attachment to set the price. But the market doesn't care what you paid for the property or what you hope it's worth. Buyers care about today's value, today's comparable sales, and today's competition.
When your property sits unsold for months, you're not just losing time—you're losing money. Every month you hold onto the property, you're paying:

• Property taxes
• Insurance premiums
• Maintenance costs
• HOA or POA fees (if applicable)

These holding costs add up quickly, draining your finances while the property sits empty.

2. Limited Buyer Pool for Vacant Land

If you're trying to sell vacant land, you're facing a fundamental challenge: the buyer pool is much smaller than for houses.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only about 5-7% of real estate transactions involve vacant land, compared to the residential housing market. This means fewer potential buyers are actively searching for land, which naturally extends the time it takes to find the right match.

Additionally, many land parcels have specific limitations:

• Access issues: No road access or landlocked properties
• Utilities: No water, sewer, or electric infrastructure
• Zoning restrictions: Agricultural zoning limits development potential
• Size challenges: Too small or too large for most buyers' needs

These factors don't make your land worthless—they just make it harder to find a traditional buyer willing to navigate those complexities. That's where a direct buyer like Land Avion can help, because we understand land's unique characteristics and buy properties in any condition.

3. Seasonal Market Slowdowns

Real estate markets follow predictable seasonal patterns. According to Redfin's 2024 housing market data, listing activity drops significantly from November through February, with the slowest period typically running from mid-December through early January.

If you list your property during these slower months, you're immediately facing reduced buyer activity. For land especially, winter months see even lower interest because buyers can't easily visit rural properties when they're snow-covered or muddy.

But here's the catch: you're still paying those monthly holding costs regardless of the season. Waiting for spring to attract more buyers means months of additional expenses.

4. The Traditional Real Estate Process Is Slow

Even when everything goes right, traditional real estate transactions take time:

Listing preparation: 1-2 weeks

• Property inspection
• Photos and marketing materials
• Listing creation and MLS submission

Marketing period: 30-90+ days

• Showings and open houses
• Buyer inquiries and negotiations
• Multiple price reductions (often needed)

Under contract to closing: 30-45 days

• Buyer financing approval
• Appraisal process
• Title work and legal review
• Final walkthrough

That's a minimum of 60 days if everything proceeds smoothly, but most properties take considerably longer. And during this entire period, you're still responsible for property taxes, insurance, and maintenance.

5. Buyer Financing Complications

Most traditional buyers need financing, which adds another layer of complexity and delay. Banks require appraisals, inspections, and underwriting—all of which can derail a sale or push closing dates back by weeks or months.
For vacant land, getting financing is even harder. Many lenders won't finance raw land at all, or they require 30-50% down payments. This drastically reduces your potential buyer pool to those with substantial cash on hand or those willing to navigate complicated land loans.

6. Market Competition and Inventory Levels

If your area has high inventory levels (many similar properties for sale), buyers have more options and can afford to be selective. They'll wait for the perfect property at the perfect price rather than settling for something that's just "okay."
This is particularly true in rural markets where land sales are less frequent. When multiple similar parcels are listed simultaneously, they compete against each other, driving prices down and extending days on market for all sellers.

What Happens When Your Property Sits Too Long

Beyond the obvious frustration, extended market time creates real problems:

Financial Drain

Every month your property remains unsold, you're paying ongoing costs. For a typical vacant land parcel with annual property taxes of $1,200, insurance of $400, and miscellaneous fees of $200, you're spending approximately $150 per month just to maintain ownership. Over six months, that's $900 in holding costs—money that comes directly out of any eventual sale proceeds.

For houses, the costs are even higher when you factor in utilities, maintenance, and potential repairs. Relocating and trying to sell a property long-distance only compounds these challenges.

Stigma of "Stale Listings"

Properties that sit on the market too long develop a stigma. Buyers wonder, "What's wrong with it?" Even if there's nothing actually wrong, the perception of a problem can depress offers or prevent serious inquiries altogether.
Real estate agents know this phenomenon well. After 60-90 days on market, many listings need to be withdrawn and relisted with a fresh listing date just to reset buyer perception.

Price Reductions Become Necessary

The longer your property sits, the more likely you'll need to reduce the price—sometimes multiple times. Each reduction chips away at your potential profit, and you're still paying those holding costs while waiting for a buyer at the lower price.

Opportunity Cost

While your money is tied up in a property you can't sell, you're missing out on other opportunities. That capital could be invested elsewhere, used to address pressing financial needs, or simply provide peace of mind by eliminating an ongoing obligation.

The Land Avion Alternative: Fast Cash Offers

This is where Land Avion's approach differs completely from traditional real estate sales.
We buy land and houses directly—no listing, no showings, no waiting for buyer financing, no commission fees. Our Fast Cash Offer process is designed to give you a clear answer quickly and close on your timeline.

How Our Fast Cash Offer Works

Step 1: Submit Your Property Details Fill out our simple online form with basic information about your property. We need the address, approximate size, and any details you want to share. This takes about 3 minutes.

Step 2: We Research and Make an Offer Our team conducts thorough research on your property, including comparable sales, market conditions, and property specifics. Within 48 hours, we'll present you with a no-obligation cash offer.

Step 3: Close on Your Timeline If you accept our offer, we handle all the paperwork and pay all closing costs. We can close in as little as 14 days, or we can work with your preferred timeline if you need more time. No realtor commissions, no hidden fees—just the agreed-upon amount directly to you.

Why This Approach Solves the Days-on-Market Problem

Immediate Buyer: You're not waiting for someone to find your listing, schedule a showing, secure financing, and complete their due diligence. We're ready to buy now.

No Financing Contingencies: Our offers are cash, meaning no appraisal requirements, no loan approval waiting periods, and no deals falling through at the last minute.

As-Is Purchase: We buy properties in any condition. No need for repairs, improvements, or even cleanup. We handle everything.

Fast Timeline: From initial contact to closed deal, we can complete the entire process in 2-3 weeks versus the 3-6 months typical of traditional sales.

No Holding Costs During Sale: The faster you close, the less you pay in ongoing property expenses. Every month you shave off the sales process is money saved.

When Does a Fast Cash Sale Make Sense?

A direct cash sale isn't always the right choice for every property owner, but it makes perfect sense in several common situations:

You Need to Sell Quickly

• Job relocation
• Financial emergency
• Health issues requiring immediate funds
• Divorce or estate settlement

The Property Has Challenges

• Difficult access or landlocked parcels
• Properties with title issues or liens
• Inherited land you don't want to keep
• Remote properties you can't easily manage

You Want to Avoid Traditional Sale Hassles

• No interest in managing showings and negotiations
• Can't afford or don't want to pay commission fees (typically 5-6%)
• Don't have time or resources for property improvements
• Want certainty instead of waiting months for a buyer

You're Tired of Holding Costs

• Property taxes and insurance are adding up
• Maintenance and liability concerns
• HOA or POA fees for land you're not using

If any of these situations resonate with you, a Fast Cash Offer could save you months of waiting and thousands of dollars in holding costs and commissions.

Real Cost Comparison: Traditional Sale vs. Fast Cash Sale

Let's look at a real example to see the financial difference:

Scenario: You own 5 acres of vacant land worth approximately $50,000 market value.

Traditional Sale Path:

• List Price: $50,000
• Time on Market: 90 days (average for land)
• Realtor Commission (6%): -$3,000
• Holding Costs (3 months): -$450 (taxes, insurance, misc.)
• Net Proceeds: $46,550
• Time to Cash: 90-120 days

Land Avion Fast Cash Offer:

• Offer Price: $42,000 (cash)
• Realtor Commission: $0
• Closing Costs: $0 (we pay all)
• Holding Costs: -$150 (1 month only)
• Net Proceeds: $41,850
• Time to Cash: 14-21 days

The difference in net proceeds is less than $5,000, but you get your money 75-100 days sooner and avoid all the uncertainty, showings, and negotiations of a traditional sale. For many property owners, that speed and certainty is worth far more than squeezing out a few extra thousand dollars.

Plus, when you factor in the time value of money and opportunity cost, getting $42,000 today is often more valuable than potentially getting $46,000 in 3-4 months—especially when there's no guarantee you'll actually get that full amount.

Understanding the real estate commission structure versus a cash sale helps clarify why many property owners choose the direct route.

How to Get Your Fast Cash Offer in 2 Days

Ready to skip the 60-90+ day waiting period and get a real offer on your property?
Here's exactly how our process works:

Day 1: Submit Your Property

• Visit our Get Cash Offer page
• Fill out the simple form (takes 3-5 minutes)
• Provide basic property details: address, size, current condition

Day 2: Receive Your Offer

• Our team researches your property and local market
• We calculate a fair cash offer based on current comparable sales
• You receive a no-obligation offer via email or phone

Day 3-14: Review and Close (Your Timeline)

• Take time to review the offer—no pressure
• If you accept, we schedule closing at your convenience
• We handle all paperwork and pay all closing costs
• You receive your cash at closing (typically 14-21 days from acceptance)

It's really that simple. No open houses, no negotiating with multiple buyers, no financing falling through. Just a straightforward cash offer and a quick, professional closing.

The Bottom Line: Time Is Money

Every day your property sits on the market costs you money in holding expenses and opportunity cost. The traditional real estate process—with its 60-90+ day timelines—made sense when it was the only option. But in 2025, direct cash buyers like Land Avion offer a faster, simpler alternative.
We're not suggesting our approach is right for everyone. If you have a pristine property in a hot market with lots of buyer interest, you might maximize value through traditional channels. But if you've been waiting months for offers, dealing with property challenges, or simply want a quick, certain sale—our Fast Cash Offer could be exactly what you need.

The question isn't whether your property will eventually sell through traditional methods. It probably will, given enough time and price reductions. The real question is: How much is your time worth? How much are those holding costs adding up? And how valuable is certainty versus hoping for a slightly higher offer months from now?

If you're curious what your property could be worth in a Fast Cash sale, there's no risk in finding out. Submit your property details today, and we'll have an offer back to you within 48 hours. No obligation, no pressure—just a real number you can actually count on.

Because ultimately, the real cost of holding onto unwanted property goes far beyond dollars and cents. It's the mental burden, the administrative hassle, and the opportunity cost of capital tied up in an asset you don't want.

Let Land Avion help you turn that property into cash—quickly, fairly, and without the months of waiting that traditional sales require.

Ready to get your Fast Cash Offer?

📞 Call: 979-269-7323
📧 Email: [email protected]

🌐 Visit: landavion.com