An Oxfordshire estate agent is expecting the property market to reignite after Boxing Day.
Brendan Kay (pictured), managing director of Parkers Properties in West Oxfordshire, said the “market is coiling and about to spring” after months of inertia driven by Budget uncertainty.
Kay said: ‘There is usually a Boxing Day bounce, but this year we are anticipating it will be greater than the norm.
“We witnessed two or three months of inertia in the run-up to the Budget with concerns over changes to stamp duty thresholds and even a possible surcharge on homes valued at over £500,000.
“In the end, neither of these rumours materialised and the biggest headline concerned those with homes over £2million who face the introduction of a Mansion Tax, although not until 2028 if it happens at all.
“Fears triggered by Budget uncertainty meant buyers and sellers held back, but now the market is coiling and ready to spring, with Boxing Day the most significant day in the calendar. We believe this could be one of the strongest Boxing Day Bonanzas we have seen in West Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds.”
Kay said key drivers included people reassessing travel to work distances, with more employers implementing return to office policies, families considering school-related moves and couples ready to downsize.
Brendan added: “The combination of low housing stock and high buyer intent creates the right environment for motivated sellers.
“We expect to launch up to 20 homes on to the market on Boxing Day, more than last year, including homes for families, downsizers and first-time buyers.
“We expect the Boxing Day Bonanza to signal the starting pistol for a busy start to 2026 as much of the pent-up demand caused by the Budget inertia is released.”
Kay has offices in Witney and Eynsham and has clients in some of Oxfordshire’s most sought-after villages, including favourites with celebrities including Charlbury and Burford, visited by US vice president JD Vance among others this summer.
Nathan Emerson, chief executive of Propertymark, the professional body for estate agents, said: “We expect to see an increase in online searches, enquiries, and valuation requests as consumers prepare to act early in 2026.”