Property markets are no longer tied to the traditional buying and selling seasons of spring and autumn, as unpredictable factors reshape the timing for prime transactions. This year saw an unusual surge in buyer interest from January to March, but poor spring weather kept sellers at bay, dampening the typical seasonal boom. In May, Rishi Sunak’s snap election prompted further hesitation. Surprisingly, listings increased in August, only for stock to dry up again in autumn as buyers and sellers awaited Labour’s Budget. Now, as winter approaches, the market remains active—defying the usual seasonal lull and suggesting that January 2025 could be a key moment to engage with the market.
When asked by The Times, Head of Country Buying—Ben Horne—confirms that “traditional property seasons are now all mixed up; in volatile times, it doesn’t always make sense for sellers to wait for the spring flowers.” Ben adds, “Our own buying client numbers have increased suddenly in the past few weeks, which is unexpected”, so “it makes huge sense to sell a property in January or February to meet the pent-up demand.”
Ben Horne was featured in The Times’ weekly newsletter.
