According to the most recent Rightmove figures, visits to the site on Boxing Day 2025 surpassed the previous record set in 2024, and visits nearly doubled from the quietest day of the year, Christmas Day, to Boxing Day.
Enquiries to estate agents also rose by around 67% in the five days after Christmas compared to the five days before Christmas, and the number of new properties listed for sale more than doubled over that same time frame, the firm said.
However, has that translated into more business for brokers? Has 2026 got off to a bang?
Sonya Matharu, founder of The Mortgage Atelier, said the figures from Rightmove are “definitely reflected in what I’m seeing”.
“Just before Christmas, I told my clients, especially those feeling stuck by low stock, to hold tight. January usually brings movement. ‘Last Christmas in this house’ is a real thing.
The next step towards a better home buying journey
Sponsored by Halifax Intermediaries
“And now, it’s happening. I had messages come in over Christmas, and this week some clients have listed. Others are getting in touch about homes they’ve just seen and want to pursue.
“It’s been a strong start to the year. Enquiries are up, and I’m seeing a mix – serious first-time buyers and homeowners finally ready to take the next step,” she noted.
‘Renewed momentum is obvious’
Daniel Bell, director and mortgage adviser at Bell Financial Solutions, agreed that the so-called Boxing Day bounce is a “very real feature of the UK property market and one we see play out consistently”.
He explained: “The period just before Christmas is always quieter. People are distracted, solicitors slow down, and most buyers mentally press pause. Then Boxing Day arrives and there is a very clear reset, with a spike in website visits, enquiries and appointment requests almost immediately.
“A lot of that activity comes from people who have had time off work and space to think. Christmas has a way of focusing minds. Family conversations about space, affordability and plans for the year ahead often turn into action very quickly once the festive period ends.”
Bell said that from a mortgage broker perspective, the “renewed momentum is obvious”.
“In our business, the uplift tends to come from two main groups. First-time buyers are particularly active, having spent the end of the year watching the market, saving or waiting for confidence around rates. Homemovers are the other key group, especially families reassessing whether their current home still fits their needs.
“We also see a noticeable increase in people wanting certainty early. Many buyers want to understand their borrowing position before competition builds in January, which makes the days between Christmas and new year surprisingly busy from an advice point of view.
“Overall, the Boxing Day bounce reflects pent-up demand rather than impulse, and it often sets the tone for how the market behaves in the early months of the year,” he noted.
December can ‘hold the key to market momentum’
James Collings, new-build director at Meridian Mortgages, said that while the Christmas period is typically deemed one of the quieter months for property purchases, the month of December can often “hold the key to market momentum”.
“This festive period is the perfect juncture for introspection, providing buyers with valuable time to reflect on their housing needs. At Meridian Mortgages, we saw enquiries rise by 35% in the five days immediately after Christmas, compared to the five days prior, which was followed by a further 133% increase in the first five days of 2026.
“This closely reflects wider market data showing a significant uplift in buyer engagement over the festive period, as people move from online research to taking more concrete steps,” he noted.
Collings echoed that there was a mix of enquiries, which he said was “encouraging”.
“We’re seeing strong demand from both first-time buyers and homemovers, many of whom have clearly spent the Christmas break reassessing their current living arrangements and longer-term plans. New-build homes continue to play a key role here, offering buyers greater certainty around pricing, timescales and energy efficiency at a time when household budgets remain front of mind.
“Whilst the year is young, the data serves as a positive indicator for sustained activity as we move through the first quarter, with buyers acting quickly once the new year begins,” he said.
Deals coming up for refinance could force sales
Matthew Poole, director at Poole Family Financial, said the Boxing Day figures on Rightmove are “usually a red herring, from experience”.
“People usually get Christmas Day done and have a nosey on Rightmove, as it is well-documented that Boxing Day is the most popular day.
“Saying that, I am expecting a positive year for the property market. The Budget is out of the way, interest rates are more competitive compared to a couple of years ago and there has already been a number of enquiries coming through to our business. This is from both first-time buyers and potential homemovers, so I am expecting a healthy property market this year,” he said.
Poole noted that there were around 1.8 million fixed rates due to expire this year, according to UK Finance figures.
“This will be a mixture of rates that were fixed in 2021 on a five-year deal, a time where high street fixed rates were at an all-time low, and two-year rates fixed in 2024, when rates were typically higher than what we are seeing at the moment.
“With cost of living still being high, those coming off the ultra-low rates from a few years ago may have no choice but to sell their property due to unsustainable rises in monthly mortgage payments,” he said.
