Rightmove has recorded its busiest ever Boxing Day for new seller activity, with a record number of properties listed for sale by agents on December 26.
The number of new properties coming to the market for sale was 26% higher than Boxing Day 2023, when the previous record was set.
Traditionally, there is a bounce in home-moving activity on Boxing Day from one of the quietest days of the year in Christmas Day, which leads into the busy January moving season.
The majority (46%) of homes listed by new sellers were mid-market, second stepper homes – consisting of three and four bed properties.
More than a third (35%) of homes listed for sale were smaller, typical first-time buyer type properties, and 18% were the largest homes at the top of the ladder.
The South East saw the most new properties coming to market, followed by the East of England and the South West.
Rightmove also recorded its busiest ever Boxing Day for visits to its platform, beating the previous record set in 2021.
Steve Pimblett, Rightmove’s chief data officer said: “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.”
Nathan Emerson, CEO of Propertymark, said: “The festive 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.”
Image credit: William Barton
