If you’re a homeowner thinking about selling, 2025 probably felt very familiar.
You may have started the year motivated.
Perhaps you even thought about moving early to get ahead of the stamp duty changes.
And then, gradually, everything slowed.
Not because you changed your mind, but because the mood changed around you.
Conversations started to drift, friends said they were “waiting to see what happens.”
Headlines became louder, confidence became quieter.
So a lot of decisions didn’t disappear, they were simply postponed.
2025 wasn’t weak. It was hesitant.
This is the distinction many people missed.
A slow market doesn’t automatically mean a bad one.
More often, it means people take longer to commit.
Viewings still happen, offers still get made. But the thinking time stretches, and “let’s wait until after…” becomes the default response.
What’s important is that this hesitation didn’t translate into falling values.
Prices still rose and once again, Newcastle outperformed the national average.
The market fundamentals held up, what wobbled was confidence.
Why that matters now
As we move into 2026, that hesitation is starting to unwind.
The budget is behind us.
Mortgage rates are trending down rather than up.
The worst-case scenarios that dominated much of 2025 never materialised.
For many homeowners, that brings relief and relief often turns into action.
People who delayed decisions for months start revisiting them.
“Maybe now is the time” replaces “let’s just wait a bit longer.”
That shift in mindset is what changes markets.
Why January 2026 could be a defining moment
January matters because it’s when delayed decisions tend to resurface all at once.
We expect:
- more sellers finally bringing properties to market
- more buyers re-entering, having adjusted to the new normal
When those two groups arrive together, momentum returns quickly.
That’s often when the strongest results are achieved, not because the market is overheated, but because activity becomes concentrated.
The question that actually matters
If you’re considering selling in 2026, the real question isn’t:
“Will the market be perfect?”
It’s:
“Will my timing, presentation, and launch strategy put me ahead of the average seller?”
Because even in a steady market, the best-prepared homes still outperform.
And as confidence continues to return, preparation will matter more than ever.
