“December’s figures show a market holding the line against the usual seasonal slowdown. Transactions saw a 1% month-on-month increase, defending against the drop the festive period usually dictates. This suggests the tentative momentum we saw building in November has managed to weather the winter chill, showing surprising resilience at the tail end of a turbulent year. “In the residential sector, affordability constraints and mortgage pricing continued to dictate the pace of play right up to the year-end. While November showed signs of the market testing the water, December’s figures remind us that consumer confidence is still fragile. Buyers are entering 2026 with a sense of cautious optimism, waiting for definitive signs of economic stability before committing to major financial decisions. “December is often a race to the finish line for corporate deals, but the broader picture remains one of selective investment. The appetite is there, but high financing costs mean investors are scrutinising the long-term fundamentals of every asset more intensely than ever. “As we look into the first quarter of 2026, the overarching theme remains the same: the market craves certainty. Pent-up demand is building, but activity will continue to come in fits and starts until we get a stable economic and political runway. “For the property industry, January is the time to prepare for this returning demand. Law firms and conveyancers who used the December lull to audit their workflows, integrate AI, and digitise their due diligence will be the ones winning market share as the spring pipeline builds. The market might be in a seasonal freeze, but the firms that act now will be first out of the blocks in the new year.” 
Andrew Lloyd
, Managing Director at Search Acumen, says:
