Real estate investment has been attracting a number of investors for years. To make it profitable, multiple techniques and strategies must be mastered. If this is not the case, risks increase depending on the evolution of the real estate market.
If you plan to resell your property, it is important to know the right time. If you make a mistake, you may incur a loss.
If you are not sure about your decision, this article is very useful. It is important to discover the necessary time before reselling a home.
📋 Key points: Personally, I consider that reselling a rental property depends on 3 major criteria: profitability, taxation, and the real estate market. In practice, many investors wait at least 5 to 10 years to optimize their capital gain. A good decision allows securing profits and avoiding losses. You must analyze your situation before acting.
When to resell your apartment without losing money?

Before selling a home, many steps must be completed. For example, it is important to get a house appraisal. Likewise, technical diagnostics are among the steps not to be overlooked.
If you want more information on the subject, consider reading our article titled: the challenges of the new energy performance diagnosis.
With all these procedures, you need time before making a sales decision. Specialists suggest waiting at least five years after acquiring the property.
To avoid losing money, consider analyzing the yield and also take into account the fees and expenses of all operations.
🗣️ My experience: I accompanied a close relative who resold his rental apartment in 2021 after 6 years of ownership. He made a capital gain of nearly 18% thanks to a market increase. This experience taught me that good timing can make all the difference.
When buying the house, you probably have to pay notary fees, file and borrower’s insurance fees, property tax, real estate VAT, and many others.
After the sale, there are also many unavoidable expenses such as agency fees if you use a professional.
🌍 Did you know?
In France, total exemption from real estate capital gains tax is reached after 22 years of ownership for income tax purposes.
You should also not neglect the costs associated with mandatory diagnostics such as energy performance, gas, lead, asbestos, and electricity.
Expenses can increase in the case of a mortgage, early resale, or real estate capital gain. It is crucial to do your calculations carefully to avoid a loss. Make sure that the price of the rental property allows you to generate a profit considering all the previously mentioned costs.
For further insight, I recommend real estate sale which complements this topic well. property valuation also provides useful leads. And to go further, mortgage payment calculation offers interesting perspectives.
What is the waiting period before reselling a property?
So far, there is no law that imposes a resale delay on your assets. You have the freedom to make a decision, regardless of your reasons.
In any case, it must be said that selling an asset purchased less than 5 years ago remains a bad idea from a financial point of view. It is better to wait until the acquisition costs are amortized.
Remember that a real estate purchase is indeed followed by several unavoidable expenses such as agency fees, notary fees, and bank loan file fees. Besides that, do not forget the condominium fees as well as local taxes.
| Holding period | Taxation (%) | Average profitability | Recommended strategy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 to 5 years | 30 to 36 | Low | Wait |
| 5 to 10 years | 20 to 30 | Medium | Analyze the market |
| 10 to 15 years | 10 to 20 | Good | Resale possible |
| 15 to 22 years | 0 to 10 | Optimal | Resale advised |
| 22 years and more | 0 | Maximum | Total exemption |
Despite your good management, you cannot amortize all these costs until after a long period of time. And even if you manage to resell the property at the same price, it still takes many years to offset all the expenses.
Moreover, the sale price may increase during the waiting period. Otherwise, it is better to arm yourself with patience for a better profitability.
⚠️ Classic trap
Selling too early without considering taxation can greatly reduce the capital gain. Many investors underestimate this impact.
When to sell your rental apartment?
Owners often put their rental property up for sale once they face financial problems. However, this decision should not be made hastily, as you risk losing a lot of money.
There are several points that must be taken into consideration before making this choice. It is initially advised to thoroughly analyze the real estate market.
👍 Strengths
Potential for capital gain
Capital release
Possible reinvestment
⚡ Weaknesses
Sometimes heavy taxation
Selling fees
When you are considering selling, find out about the overall progress of the real estate market. Demand must be higher than supply. Also, the market should be advantageous to sellers rather than buyers.
When the selling price is on the rise, you must seize opportunities. Otherwise, you need to wait until it increases.
⏱️ Timing
Analyze the market over 3 to 6 months before selling to choose the best moment and maximize your price.
Certain times of the year are favorable for selling a rented apartment. Spring is the best season because demand is high. You will finalize the contract signing in summer.
This is also the most appropriate time to resell your house. Moves and job transfers sometimes occur during the nice season. In any case, it is advisable to make this decision at the end of the lease.
Is it the right time to sell an apartment in 2026?
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Since they will take their time, sellers compete by increasing offers. In any case, even if prices rise in large cities, expect a slight difference. For less dynamic areas, it is wise to consider all possibilities.
FAQ
When to quickly resell a rental property?
It is recommended to wait at least 5 years before reselling the property. This is the necessary duration to be able to recoup the costs after purchase.
When to resell a rental property after a family death?
Following the death of a parent or a family member, the sale of a property is carried out in the same way as a regular sale.
When to resell a rental property after purchase?
To avoid a loss, it is wise to wait 5 years so that you can amortize the expenses related to the acquisition of the housing.




