Do not underestimate how fast homes move into contract
If you are deciding when to fly in and start touring, do not plan a slow, open-ended search. In January 2026 in Pontiac, MI, the typical time for a home to go pending was 16 days, so relocation planning needs tighter scheduling.
Here is the constraint I plan around for January 2026 in Pontiac, MI a typical pending timeline was 16 days for single-family homes. In the same month, supply was 1.98 months and there were 41 pending listings at month end. This changes your plan because relocation buyers often lose the right home by waiting for the next trip instead of being prepared to move when the right match appears. Some metrics were not reported for this period, so I cannot tell you exactly how many offers each home received, but the January 2026 pending speed in Pontiac, MI is enough to justify a more disciplined approach. Schedule tours only after you have your financing and documentation organized, because Pontiac, MI moved into pending in 16 days in January 2026. Narrow your criteria before you arrive so you can make decisions quickly without feeling rushed. When you do find a match, align your offer strategy with the January 2026 pattern of buyers landing around 95.2% of asking.
