As the jingle bells ring and Christmas lights sparkle, December presents a golden opportunity for buyers and investors looking to snap up a property before the year’s end.

Traditionally, the start of the silly season might seem like a quiet time for real estate, but savvy buyers know better—this is when buying competition cools as attention turns to cricket tests, Christmas holidays and other cheery celebrations and buying opportunities shine like a star atop the Christmas tree.

Real estate continues to “sleigh” expectations

December arrived bearing good tidings for Australia’s $11 trillion property market, which has now celebrated an incredible 22 months of consecutive growth—a streak as bright as Rudolph’s nose.

While some property elves whisper about slowing momentum, cities such as Brisbane, Adelaide, Darwin, and Canberra posted monthly increases, with Perth leading the pack at 1.1% growth for the month.

Looking at the bigger picture, Perth dazzled with an impressive 21% annual growth to 30 November, followed by Adelaide at 14% and Brisbane at 12.1%. Even, Sydney continued its steady performance, ticking along just below 3.5% annual growth.

Remarkably, this sustained growth comes despite the Reserve Bank of Australia holding interest rates at 4.35%.

Why December is prime time for buyers and investors

The resilience of the property market remains a standout story. For many savvy homebuyers and investors, it’s a story that they won’t close the book on until they nab a quality, well-located property – and hopefully just in time before the jolly big man in the red suit makes his rounds.  

Raine & Horne’s data for November paints a festive snapshot of the property market, with new listings up slightly on last year—up 4.3% nationally, to be exact. This increase means that there are still plenty of opportunities for savvy buyers to unwrap a new property rather than waiting for the gift of an interest rate cut to make a move. Yet, the number of buyers attending open for inspections in November dipped compared to the same month last year.

Angus Raine, Executive Chairman of Raine & Horne, said, “The savvy investors I know delight in buying in November and December. They hand over a deposit and tell the agent to put up the sold sticker to close the deal.”

He continued, “Forget Black Friday sales, every Saturday in December is a Black Saturday for real estate and it’s a great time to snag a quality property.”

For whatever reason, some properties hang around this time of year, noted Angus. “However, Christmas often acts as a natural close to the year and plenty of vendors just want to get a result.

“So, jump in your sleigh whether you’re a home buyer or investor and look to fill your Santa sacks with a quality, well-located property during December.”

Looking ahead, the buzz around potential interest rate cuts remains a hot topic, with many buyers and sellers holding out for a reduction before making their move. For instance, November saw a 17.62% increase in appraisals nationally, signalling that many vendors are gearing up to list their properties in early 2025— especially if the Reserve Bank joins the New Year’s party with a rate cut sooner rather than later.

For an obligation-free appraisal of your home’s or investment property’s value for a summer sale, contact your local Raine & Horne office today.