Days on Market (DOM)
The number of days a property has been listed for sale before going under contract.
Definition
Days on Market (DOM) is the number of days between when a property is listed for sale and when it goes under contract. It's a key market health indicator: low DOM signals high demand and a seller's market; high DOM signals weak demand or overpricing.
For investors, DOM is useful in multiple ways: evaluating your own exit timeline (how quickly will you sell this flip?), identifying opportunities (properties with high DOM often have motivated sellers willing to negotiate), and reading market trends.
Cumulative Days on Market (CDOM) tracks the total days a property has been listed even if it was relisted — this catches re-listings that try to reset the clock. A property re-listed after 120 days of no activity is a different negotiating situation than a fresh listing with 5 DOM.
Related Terms
Absorption Rate
The rate at which available homes sell in a given market during a time period.
Comparable Sales (Comps)
Recent sales of similar properties used to estimate the market value of a subject property.
Market Value
The price a property would sell for in a competitive market between a willing buyer and seller.
Fix and Flip
Buying a distressed property, renovating it, then selling it quickly for a profit.
Also in "D"
Debt Service
The total cash required to cover loan payments — both principal and interest — over a given period.
Deed
A legal document that transfers ownership of real property from one party to another.
Double Close
Two simultaneous closings on the same property — an investor buys from the seller then immediately sells to the end buyer.