Yeah actually it is a factor.

If you put your home on the market today and move out and sell as vacant I guarantee the LONGER it is vacant the more the value of the home decreases.

Same really as being out of a job.

If you apply for a new job after having quit your previous one the month before, HR will think more highly of you/your application than if you've been searching for a job for a year and havent found one yet.