Housing market after Christmas/New Year?

maisonette

I was wondering whether, in general, the housing market picks up after Xmas/New Year? Was anyone looking this time last year and if so did there seem to be lots of new properties on after the New Year? I appreciate nobody has a crystal ball but I would guess there are trends that follow year after year.

Am looking to buy there is nothing suitable at the moment within the budget. The market where I am is not particularly buoyant so it's not that houses are being sold quickly, just that nothing meets the criteria of 'must haves' as well as budget!

carefullycautious

Im finding there is months of stagnation with nothing selling then all of a sudden the houses are sold subject to contract. Usually when there is a drop in prices

caitchbee

Wondering the same here. We've seen the house we want but there is nothing else that we like enough to offer on (we're looking in a very small area), hoping others come to the market in the NY so we have other options. Hate feeling like all our hopes are pinned on one house when it could sell before we get a buyer for ours!

nollag2006

Very little comes on in the run up to Christmas or indeed in bitter January. Expect to see houses come on to the market in early Feb and through to the end of March as vendors try to take advantage of the Spring bounce, and purchasers rush to get in before the Summer

hazyjo

In typically British style, I think a lot of it's weather dependent. The year before last, I seem to remember traipsing round looking at houses in the snow in Dec/Jan. It was pretty dead out there although a few did come onto the market. I find people expect a bit of a rush, which doesn't generally happen these days, and then they say about the the spring/Easter market once Jan's out the way.

Jx

Itismehonest

It depends on the sort of property & area but, traditionally, there was always a rush for people to get into new houses in time for Christmas & then things would go quiet throughout Jan/Feb. Most vendors would look toward putting places on the market in the Spring. Of course, those who have to sell have to sell so go against the traditional timing & will be on the market throughout the year.

brit1234

There will be a flood of properties in January and February 2012, there will be also an increase asking prices. However many of the sellers will have deluded themselves to having to high asking prices and won't sell.

However there will be big falls across the country including London at the beginning and end of the year with the occasional rise in the middle.

House prices down though in 2012.

Horizon81

maisonette wrote: »

I was wondering whether, in general, the housing market picks up after Xmas/New Year? Was anyone looking this time last year and if so did there seem to be lots of new properties on after the New Year? I appreciate nobody has a crystal ball but I would guess there are trends that follow year after year.

Am looking to buy there is nothing suitable at the moment within the budget. The market where I am is not particularly buoyant so it's not that houses are being sold quickly, just that nothing meets the criteria of 'must haves' as well as budget!

Tell me about it! Hardly anything has come up in months and those that do meet the bill have stupidly unrealistic asking prices and are unsurprisingly still for sale. Why do so many sellers think its 2006/7? The market has moved on but these idiot's expectations are 5 years out of date. Still, there's quite a few repossessions about so keep your fingers crossed for a suitable one.

ruggedtoast

Its supposed to pick up in February and really get going after Easter, but supply has been very flat for years now, in the SE at any rate.

Caroline73_2

I bought my house in July for 187k. The house opposite is currently on the market for 250k. Not much difference between the two, same square footage although a slightly different layouts, the opposite house has a double garage rather than single. The house opposite has delusional vendors too.

xyellowx

the estate i looked at 24months ago a 4 bed detached was between 255k and 265k depending on the plot (all small roads 10/12 houses in each one some bit more front garden or bigger drive)

now 24months later priced up at 230k-235k and selling, however one still up from 24months ago with a 10k reduction sign on and they wonder why they cant sell it, although estate agent told me last week if im interested to be quick as there is lots of interest :rotfl: and i thought it was xmas not april fool.

in my area the houses being priced up sensibly are selling quickly the houses being priced up early 2009 prices arnt even getting veiwed

dont think it depends on the weather myself think it all depends on the price, but thats just my take on it.