Guide · 6 min read · Updated October 2026
How to Get Listings in a Slow Winter Market (Start With the People You Already Know)
The fastest way to get listings in winter is to call the people who already know you: past clients, your sphere and anyone who said "maybe next year." Then work expired listings and FSBOs, and get in front of the January movers before spring. With pending sales at a 12-year low, steady winter follow-up wins spring listings.
Why winter listings are worth chasing
Fewer agents prospect in December, so the sellers who need to move hear from fewer people.
Real Estate News reported in October 2026 that pending sales in Redfin's September data fell to their lowest level since 2014, leaving out the 2020 lockdown. In a slow market, sellers who do list in winter usually have a reason to move: a job, a divorce, a growing family, a house that sat all fall. Those are the conversations to have now.
9 ways to get listings this winter
Start at the top of this list, because the first ideas cost nothing and convert best.
- 01Call every past client and ask how the house is working for them.
- 02Go back to everyone who said "maybe next year" in 2026, because next year is almost here.
- 03Text your sphere a short note with a real number, like what a house on their street just sold for.
- 04Call expired listings from the fall, because those sellers still want to move.
- 05Visit FSBOs in person, since many end up listing with an agent.
- 06Offer a free "what's my home worth" update in your holiday and New Year texts.
- 07Ask lenders and financial planners who's thinking about moving in 2027.
- 08Hold an open house on a sunny winter weekend, when there's less competition.
- 09Send a January note to past clients who bought years ago and may be outgrowing their home.
The "maybe next year" list
The best winter listings come from conversations you already had and didn't follow up on.
Every agent has a list of people who said they'd sell "after the holidays" or "once the kids finish school." Most of those notes are buried in old texts and never get a follow-up.
Pull that list together now, set a date for each person, and start calling in early January before every other agent does.
What to say on the call
Lead with something useful, not with "are you thinking of selling?"
- "Hi Dana, a house two streets over just sold for $485K, and I thought you'd want to know what that means for yours."
- "Hey Mike, you mentioned last spring you might move after the holidays. Is that still on your mind for 2027?"
- "Hi Sarah, I'm putting together home value updates for past clients this month. Want me to send yours?"
Where Sifta fits
Sifta keeps track of every "maybe next year" and reminds you when it's time, so no winter listing slips.
Sifta is a personal AI assistant for realtors. It runs the busywork of your business, so you can spend your time with clients.
It takes notes on the deals you do over text, keeps the follow-ups going with leads and past clients, and drafts messages for you to approve. It works at any brokerage, with the tools you already use.
Sources
1 source
Every source on this page was checked on October 22, 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is winter a good time to get listings?
Yes. Fewer agents prospect in winter, and sellers who list then usually have a real reason to move, so the conversations are fewer but better.
Who should I call first for winter listings?
Past clients and anyone who told you they might sell next year. They already know you and cost nothing to call.
Should I call expired listings in winter?
Yes. Sellers whose listings expired in the fall usually still want to move, and many relist in January or February.
What should I text my sphere in winter?
Something useful, like a recent sale on their street or an offer to send a free home value update, not a request for business.
How do I keep track of people who might sell next year?
Keep one list with a follow-up date for each person, or use an assistant like Sifta that takes notes on the deals you do over text and reminds you when it's time.
Related reading
Three ways in
Never lose a "maybe next year" again.
The Week-One Guarantee. Try Sifta free for 7 days, and if it doesn't catch something worth more than the price, you won't pay a thing. You can cancel with one text.
Try Sifta free for 7 days