(A surprisingly powerful day for buyers, movers and landlords.)
Quick Summary
- Boxing Day is one of the busiest days of the year for property searching.
- More sellers prep their listings for early January, so you get first look.
- Buyers browsing now have a real advantage when new stock hits the market.
- Lenders often refresh rates in January — so prepping early puts you ahead.
- A little festive downtime makes it the perfect moment to get mortgage-ready.
1 | Yes — Boxing Day Really Is a Massive Property Day
Every year, Rightmove and Zoopla report:
- Huge spikes in buyer searches
- Record levels of saved properties
- Early enquiries for January listings
- Sellers preparing new instructions after Christmas
Why?
Because thousands of people finally have time to sit down, talk, scroll — and imagine what’s next.
If you’re thinking of buying, you’re not early — you’re right on time.
2 | Sellers Quietly Prepare Listings for New Year Launch
Many homeowners use Christmas to:
- Finish little jobs before listing
- Take photos
- Complete agent paperwork
- Agree asking prices
Most of these properties go live between 28 December and 10 January.
Which means:
Buyers browsing on Boxing Day often see new stock before everyone else.
3 | Why Boxing Day Buyers Have an Advantage
✔ You’re early
Most buyers wait until mid-January.
✔ You get first pick
Fresh listings often appear in the “quiet” period.
✔ Less competition
Many people are still full of turkey and ignoring their phones.
✔ You can move quickly
If you prep your mortgage early, you can enquire first — and serious sellers notice.
4 | It’s the Perfect Time to Review Your Mortgage Options
Boxing Day is calm, quiet, and pressure-free — ideal for organising your mortgage plans.
Things to check:
✔ How much you can borrow
Affordability is improving as inflation falls.
✔ Your deposit position
Round up savings, gifts, bonuses or leftover budget.
✔ Your credit file
Spot anything you need to clean up before January.
✔ Your bank statements
Avoid BNPL or overdrafts if you’re applying early in the New Year.
Small tweaks now = much easier approvals later.
5 | Rates Are Expected to Keep Dropping
Many analysts expect the mortgage market to remain competitive through early 2026.
This is a great time to:
- Lock an Agreement in Principle
- Compare fixed vs tracker options
- Check if you qualify for lower LTV bands
- Explore new-build incentives launching in January
Starting on Boxing Day means you’re ahead of next month’s price changes.
6 | Even Landlords Benefit from a Boxing Day Search
If you’re an investor:
- Motivated sellers are more open to negotiation
- Fewer competing buyers mean better prices
- January refurb deals are often cheaper
- More new stock appears in regeneration zones
- Yield planning is easier before tax-year-end
Boxing Day is one of the best times to spot potential BTL opportunities before the crowd returns.
7 | It’s Also the Perfect Time to Get Documents Ready
If you’re thinking of applying soon, use the quiet festive period to gather:
- ID
- Payslips (3 months)
- Bank statements (3 months)
- P60
- Self-employed accounts/SA302s if needed
- Deposit evidence
- Proof of bonuses/commission
Starting now means you can move instantly when the right property appears.
8 | Final Thoughts — Don’t Sleep on Boxing Day
While most people are halfway through leftovers and Christmas films…
Savvy buyers are quietly preparing for the biggest property surge of the year.
If you’re considering moving, buying, or investing in 2026, Boxing Day is:
- Low stress
- High opportunity
- Quiet, calm and perfect for prep
- A real head-start on the January market
📞 Want to Know Your Borrowing Power Before January?
We don’t provide mortgage advice directly — but we can introduce you to a specialist adviser who can:
- Check how much you can borrow
- Compare deals expected in January
- Give you an early Agreement-in-Principle
- Help you get fully mortgage-ready for 2026