January is often thought of as a slow month, but it is one of the most strategic times for sellers to enter the market. Buyers return from the break refreshed, focused and ready to act, while many sellers are still preparing their campaigns. This timing gap creates a clear advantage for early January listings.
OC reporting shows buyer activity rises by more than 20% from December to January. Buyers start researching earlier, make decisions faster and book inspections sooner. Sellers who wait until late January or February often miss this surge of early demand.
Low Competition Meets High Motivation
New listings begin rising later in January and continue climbing into February, but early January remains a period where motivated buyers are active and seller competition is still low. According to Cotality, Adelaide entered summer with strong momentum, recording monthly growth of 1.2% in September and 0.5% in October. This consistency proves that buyer demand carries steadily into the new year.
Affordability challenges are also driving decisiveness. With fewer homes sitting within reach, buyers act quickly when the right property becomes available. This creates a favourable environment for well positioned early January campaigns.
Launching in the first two weeks of January allows your property to be seen by active buyers before the main wave of new listings appears. Early campaign momentum often leads to stronger enquiry and smoother negotiations.
At OC, we prepare January listings well ahead of time. We engage our buyer database early, build digital momentum over the holidays and design targeted strategies to connect your home with motivated buyers as soon as the market reopens.
If you are thinking about selling in 2026, listing early could give you a powerful advantage. Our team is here to help you beat the competition with confidence and clarity.
Disclaimer: Information in this blog is accurate at the time of publication. OC has relied upon information from external sources in compiling this publication and does not warrant its accuracy or completeness. Please verify details and consult your agent before making any decisions.
