2026 Property Market: A Flying Start – But No Free Passes

Marc Cox, Cox & Co

The property market has come out of the blocks hard in 2026. Momentum is back in a way we haven’t seen for years, and the data backs up exactly what we’re seeing on the ground: people want to move.

Year-to-date, there have been 96,500 new listings – a huge 34% above the pre-pandemic (2017–19) average. Importantly, buyers haven’t gone missing. Net sales stand at 46,100 YTD, running 35% higher than this time last year.

But let’s be clear: a busy market does not mean an easy one.

Yes, activity is high. But pricing discipline is still the difference between success and frustration.

Take completions. In December, 60.2% of homes leaving the market completed successfully. That’s a strong result compared to the three-year average of 53.5%. The flip side? Nearly 40% still withdrew unsold.

That tells you everything you need to know.

My verdict: 2026 offers huge opportunity for sellers who get it right from day one. Price realistically, market properly, and you give yourself every chance of being in the group that sells. Ignore the market, chase the price, or rely on hope – and you risk joining the percentage that quietly disappears off the portals.

In this market, strategy wins. Complacency loses.