Pastel-coloured terraced houses, blue sky

Record-breaking Boxing Day bounce for sellers and home-hunters

Boxing Day has long been known for its traditional ‘bounce’ in housing market activity, as after the quiet of Christmas Day, people’s thoughts quickly turn to what a new year, and a new home, could look like. This year, that bounce reached record-breaking levels, with 2024 marking the busiest Boxing Day ever for both new property listings and traffic to Rightmove, as home-hunters and sellers began preparing for their 2025 moves. 

Our data shows a 26% increase in the number of new properties listed for sale compared to Boxing Day 2023, which previously held the record. And this sharp rise reflects a growing trend for homeowners seeing the post-Christmas period as an opportunity to get ahead of the busy January moving season. 

Nearly half (46%) of homes coming onto the market were ‘second stepper’, three- and four-bedroom homes. Smaller homes, popular with first-time buyers, made up 35% of listings, while 18% were larger, top-of-the-ladder properties. Regionally, the South East led the way in terms of the volume of new listings, followed by the East of England and the South West. 

But it wasn’t just sellers contributing to this year’s ‘bounce’, as home-hunters were also on the lookout for their potential next home this festive season. Enquiries sent to estate agents about homes for sale were 20% higher than Boxing Day 2023, as would-be buyers took advantage of the increased choice. And we saw the highest number of Boxing Day visits in history, surpassing the previous record set in 2021. 

Our Chief Data Officer, Steve Pimblett, says: “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 with their 2025 moves. While it’s very early days, these first indicators are positive signs for a busy start to the year for agents.” 

Boxing Day’s surge in activity has set a positive tone for the new year housing market. With more homes available and buyers eager to make their moves, these early signals could point to a strong 2025 for both home-movers and estate agents. 

 The header image for this article was provided courtesy of Boardwalk Property Co, Bristol

READ MORE: Our 2025 house price forecast


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