New build homebuyer activity set to spike as busiest time of the year approaches

December 5, 2019
new build homes essex uk

The latest research by new homes specialist, Stone Real Estate, has revealed that the level of new build properties being sold accelerates as we head into December, while sales across the regular market drop a gear in the run-up to Christmas.

Stone Real Estate looked at the number of transactions across each area of the market over the last five years, what percentage of total transactions they accounted for in each year, and how this compared to the previous months.

The research shows that on average over the last five years, the number of new build transactions in December accounts for 11.9% of total new build transactions for the year. In contrast, the number of existing homes sold during the last month of the year accounted for just 8.2% of all sales on average.

What’s more, December is the only other month of the year where new build sales hit double-digits as a percentage of total yearly sales along with June, with both months consistently ranking as the busiest in the new build calendar over the last five years.

There is also a clear trend whereby the number of new-build sales falls considerably following the June peak and then slowly gains momentum heading towards Christmas. On the other hand, existing property sales tend to see a gradual decline from August and September heading into the festive season.

Founder and CEO of Stone Real Estate, Michael Stone, commented:

“The new build sector doesn’t come under the same seasonal strain when it comes to sales transactions when compared to the existing sector. This is largely because new build sales involve one buyer and on the other side of the coin you have a professional entity that continues to work right up until the Christmas break to get a sale over the line.

This should be the case with any good estate agent, however, as there is no lengthy chain to deal with or any of the other complications that can come with an existing property sale, the process is all the quicker. As a result, when the December rush to complete before or just after Christmas hits, the new build sector is much better placed to facilitate a greater number of sales despite the shorter time frame.

One common misconception is that Christmas is a great time to find a homebuyer bargain and while true to an extent, historically new build house prices tend to stand firm, and in many cases sit higher than many previous months in the year. That said, developers will often include some festive incentives to persuade homebuyers to take the plunge and this, of course, all helps favourably towards their end of year figures.”

Five Year Look
Sector
December Sales as a Percentage of Annual Sales
New Build Average
11.90%
Existing Average
8.20%
Date/Month
New Build Sales as % of All Yearly Sales
Existing Sales as % of All Yearly Sales
2014
2014-01-01
5.1%
7.4%
2014-02-01
6.1%
7.2%
2014-03-01
8.3%
7.3%
2014-04-01
7.3%
7.8%
2014-05-01
8.3%
8.5%
2014-06-01
13.4%
8.4%
2014-07-01
7.2%
9.4%
2014-08-01
7.6%
9.8%
2014-09-01
8.3%
8.6%
2014-10-01
8.5%
9.5%
2014-11-01
7.9%
8.1%
2014-12-01
12.0%
8.1%
2015
2015-01-01
4.6%
6.5%
2015-02-01
5.3%
6.5%
2015-03-01
8.4%
7.2%
2015-04-01
7.6%
7.0%
2015-05-01
8.9%
8.0%
2015-06-01
14.1%
8.6%
2015-07-01
8.0%
10.3%
2015-08-01
7.8%
9.3%
2015-09-01
8.9%
8.9%
2015-10-01
8.4%
10.0%
2015-11-01
7.5%
9.0%
2015-12-01
10.5%
8.8%
2016
2016-01-01
4.5%
7.0%
2016-02-01
5.1%
7.5%
2016-03-01
9.2%
13.6%
2016-04-01
7.4%
5.8%
2016-05-01
7.5%
6.7%
2016-06-01
12.5%
7.8%
2016-07-01
7.3%
9.0%
2016-08-01
7.5%
9.1%
2016-09-01
8.8%
8.6%
2016-10-01
8.4%
8.0%
2016-11-01
8.7%
8.3%
2016-12-01
13.2%
8.4%
2017
2017-01-01
5.0%
6.7%
2017-02-01
5.7%
7.0%
2017-03-01
9.3%
8.4%
2017-04-01
7.1%
7.2%
2017-05-01
8.2%
7.9%
2017-06-01
13.2%
9.2%
2017-07-01
6.9%
9.0%
2017-08-01
6.9%
9.7%
2017-09-01
8.6%
9.0%
2017-10-01
8.1%
8.9%
2017-11-01
8.6%
8.8%
2017-12-01
12.3%
8.2%
2018
2018-01-01
5.2%
7.0%
2018-02-01
6.2%
6.9%
2018-03-01
9.0%
7.9%
2018-04-01
6.9%
7.0%
2018-05-01
7.7%
8.1%
2018-06-01
13.9%
8.7%
2018-07-01
6.9%
9.0%
2018-08-01
7.4%
10.4%
2018-09-01
8.1%
8.2%
2018-10-01
8.2%
9.2%
2018-11-01
8.8%
9.8%
2018-12-01
11.7%
7.7%

Properganda PR

National and local media coverage for property businesses. Journo quotes delivered in minutes.

You May Also Enjoy

Planning disputes on new build land
Breaking News

Padel Boom Sparks 113% Surge in Planning Applications

17,000 UK Sites Ripe for Development New insight from Searchland reveals that planning applications for padel courts surged by more than 113% in 2024, with the upward trend expected to continue throughout 2025. The explosive growth of the sport in the UK has unlocked a wealth of potential for developers and investors, with Searchland estimating…
Read More →
Breaking News

Property values rise at 5.3 times the rate of earnings

House prices across Britain rise at 5.3 times the rate of earnings in the last year The latest research from eXp UK has found that the average house price in Great Britain has increased at 5.3 times the rate of average earnings over the past year, highlighting a widening affordability gap for homebuyers. eXp UK…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

London homes with a patio prove hot property,

The latest research from Benham and Reeves has found that London homes offering a patio have become highly sought after, with 41% of all patio-equipped properties currently listed already snapped up by eager homebuyers. However, potential buyers dreaming of a summer-ready outdoor space might face challenges, as only 8% of properties currently on the market…
Read More →
Home and Living

High Quality Modular Homes for the UK

Are you looking for added accommodation space in your garden / on your land? Modular Living Homes by tutumHOUSE offer a new way to live – minimalist in form, rich in experience. “There are approximately 9.6 million homes in the UK with a garden shed, and around 52% of the population owns one.” asgardsss There…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

The most stressful places to move to in the UK

With more people in the UK moving homes during summer than any other season and the average cost of moving in the UK rising to over £14,000, picking the right place to move to has become more crucial than ever. Luckily, new research from Pay Less for Storage reveals the UK cities that make life easiest…
Read More →
Estate Agent Talk

Time-Traveling Estate Agent Sequel Climbs Amazon Charts

A UK Estate Agent Currently Bringing Joy to People’s Lives – Shame He’s Fictional…   Eric Meek, the fictional estate agent created by author Dale Bradford, is back for a second outing in The Time‑Travelling Estate Agent 2, a sequel that is already climbing Amazon’s bestselling time‑travel rankings. Estate agents were recently highlighted as the third…
Read More →