December Cash Buyers on the Decline
So is a sale before Christmas still possible?
New analysis from Springbok Properties reveals that the number of cash buyers declines in December, so any sellers who are keen to secure a quick sale ahead of Christmas might need to explore different avenues.
Springbok Properties have studied historic data on the estimated number of cash buyers in Britain during the month of December, and found that last year, the number of cash sales in the month of December totalled 17,593.
This marks a -12% decline on the number of cash transactions in December 2023 (19,984), which itself marked an annual decline of -18.4% compared to December 2022. In fact, the number of December cash buyers have fallen each year since 2021.
To further illustrate the Christmas decline, December 2024’s cash transaction total of 17,593 puts it -13.3% behind the year’s overall average monthly cash transaction total of 20,101. This is the biggest festive drop-off since 2021 (-14.8%), and the second largest since at least 2012.
With few signs of economic improvement or housing market uplift, there is no reason to expect that this Christmas will see any kind of cash buyer uptick. In fact, when all the data comes through, there is a good chance it shows even further decline.
Cash buyers command a major discount
Any home sellers who are hoping to find a cash buyer this Christmas aren’t facing good odds. But even if one does come along, they’re going to expect any sellers to significantly reduce their asking price in exchange for a fast, no fuss transaction.
Last Christmas (2024), it was reported that cash buyers were typically paying -9% less than a buyer using a mortgage, and now the latest look from Springbok Properties suggests that not much has changed since then with the average cash buyer now securing an -8.4% discount.
As such, while the average mortgage buyer is now paying £280,799 (as of September 2025 – latest available), the average cash buyer is paying just £258,265.
Shepherd Ncube, CEO of Springbok Properties, commented:
“Christmas cash buyers are hard to come by, and this year, with the market as subdued as it is, they’re likely to be scarcer than ever. Indeed, while some Budget uncertainty has now lifted, we don’t expect to see a sudden influx of cash buyers this side of the New Year.
This is unwelcome news for any sellers who are hoping to secure a fast sale before Christmas, or even before the New Year. With so few buyers around who can commit to such a fast transaction, anxious sellers also enter the price negotiations in a weakened position, which means cash buyers might be able to get themselves an even bigger discount than usual.
That’s why sellers for whom speed is a priority this Christmas should look at alternatives to selling on the open market. One such alternative is a cash buying platform such as Springbok Properties. We commit to helping sellers secure an incredibly fast sale time, with the added security and reliability of a professional transaction, away from the unpredictability and drama of the open market.
And because cash buyers themselves command a significant price discount, when you’re selling to a quick sale company, you’re likely to achieve a very similar value.”
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