Latest data from Rightmove reveals its busiest Boxing Day ever for new seller activity with a record number of new properties listed for sale by agents, as well as highest-ever levels of sales enquiries.

Both reports from the portal should give sales agents an added dose of good cheer during the festive break that the New Year will see a significant uptick in market activity and transactions.

Rightmove says the number of new properties coming to the market for sale was 26% higher than Boxing Day 2023, when the previous record was set.

Second stepper

Nearly half of homes listed by new vendors were mid-market, second stepper homes – consisting of three and four bed properties, while a third were smaller, typical first-time buyer type properties, while the rest were the largest homes at the top of the ladder.

Also, the South East of England saw the most new properties coming to market, followed by the East of England and the South West.

Total buyer demand, measured by the number of enquiries sent to estate agents about homes for sale, was also 20% higher on 26^th December 2024 than the same day in 2023, as potential buyers capitalised on more choice ahead of a 2025 move.

“We’ve seen a record-breaking Boxing Day, not only for people turning to the Rightmove platform once the Christmas Day festivities are over, but also for home-movers taking action and getting ahead of a 2025 move,” says Steve Pimblett, Rightmove’s Chief Data Officer.

“While it’s very early days, these first indicators are positive signs for a busy start to the year for agents.”

Inspiration

Nathan Emerson, CEO of Properymark, says: “The festival period can prove a real inspiration for many who are thinking of potentially moving house.

“When you consider just how much progression the last twelve month has delivered to the housing market, it’s extremely encouraging to see enhanced levels of confidence translate into record numbers of people having the certainty to approach the buying and selling process.

“We started the year with inflation standing a 4% and the Bank of England base rate at 5.25%, both are now trending steadily back downwards and in turn this is helping to provide much needed affordability.

“Overall, we are expecting to see an extremely promising start to 2025, as people find themselves in a much more robust financial position than witnessed last year.”

Winkworth’s Chief Executive Dominic Agace says: “Our offices always see a spike in people coming to the site in the days after Christmas as new instructions go live after the Christmas break but the real bounce will be on January 2nd when a desire for change is a natural sentiment in the New Year and many people decide to move and to sell.”