Inside the big change in homebuyer habits during the Christmas holidays

Brisbane homebuyers are feeling the Christmas rush as they scramble to snap up property before the end of the year.

New analysis from PRD Real Estate has found buyer pools were increasing by up to 25 per cent in the final months of the year, with many locking down sales within days.

Sales were coming from first home and lower-income buyers, with a spike in sales under $750,000 and a big dip in sales above $1.5m.

Research has found the Brisbane market jumps by up to a quarter in size during the final months of the year, as buyers rush to secure homes before the end of the holidays.

PRD chief economist Dr Diaswati Mardiasmo said her team typically saw a 20 to 25 per cent lift in inquiries and conversation rates around the holidays, and they were seeing a larger spike this year compared to 2024.

“We are seeing first homebuyers in droves saying they want to settle and get into the market as soon as possible,” she said, “some of them because of the potential cash rate hike in 2026, some of them to get their finances in place before Christmas and the school holidays.”

REA data analysis found Brisbane properties were being sold nearly a week faster than they were at the start of the year.

PRD chief economist Dr Diaswati Mardiasmo said she was seeing more advertisements for buyers to get their finances in order before Christmas.

The median days on the market throughout the city dropped by six throughout 2025, going from 34 days in January-February to 28 days currently.

The latest quarter, measured up to November 23, saw 56 per cent clearance rates across Brisbane — a jump from the past quarter at 52 per cent, and the quarter before that at 39 per cent.

Ray White Collective agent Ben Osborne described these new purchasers as “fatigue buyers”. “(They) have been searching all year, narrowly missing out on the right property and are now determined to finally secure a home and put an end to their search,” he said.

Many ‘fatigue buyers’ want to avoid the market dropping off after school restarts, with properties in Brisbane selling nearly a week faster than they were at the start of 2025. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

“Inquiry levels are lifting as families and professionals look to relocate and start the new year in the right place, or plan ahead as their children prepare to start school in Brisbane.”

Mr Osborne said this was one of several reasons behind strong end-of-year results in today’s market, especially if sellers were ready for the spending surge.

“Well-prepared properties that are presented at their best tend to attract serious interest quickly, creating the potential for strong results even in the final weeks of the year,” he said.

The home at 12 Windsor St, Hamilton, is one of many that sold before they were supposed to go to auction, with many buyers and sellers keen to settle end-of-year purchases as soon as possible.

Dr Mardiasmo said this behaviour rose sharply after the Covid-19 pandemic, when the market exploded in both prices and activity.

She said she had seen more advertising for homebuyer financial services when compared to 2022 and 2023, and felt more people were capitalising on the government’s new first homebuyers grant.

“More than ever now there’s more of a push for refinancing and getting your finances sorted before Christmas,” she said.

“I know there are buyers concerned about lending criteria (becoming) much tighter for banks.”

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