New homes added to the Canberra market in the lead up to Christmas as real estate agents expect busy holiday period

Real estate agents across Canberra expect many prospective buyers will continue to search for property in the coming weeks.

Upside Realty director of sales James Kirkland said the holiday season often means less competition and more serious buyers - ideal conditions for sellers.

"Less homes means less listings to compete with," Mr Kirkland said.

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"Add to this a property that is strategically priced, well-marketed and looking great - there's a good chance that you'll be able to stand out from the pack during this time."

Lisa Silberberg, licensed agent at Ray White Canberra, said the Christmas period has always been an important time for the property market.

"Over the next couple of days Ray White will bring to market around 60 properties that will be scheduled sell at a bit of a grand auction event towards the end of January," she said.

"For our clients, what that really means is that they're cornering the market because we know that buyers will be house hunting in all seasons, regardless of what is happening.

"In fact, if they're on their Christmas break they've got extra time to peruse listings and look for a home."

Ms Silberberg said sellers may also find a pool of additional buyers who are travelling to the Canberra region during this time.

"[Buyers] may actually capture some of the out of area people who are returning to Canberra through that transient period, which January has always been ... and buying while they're here," she said.

Anthony Mewton, a Canberra-based licensed property agent at Upside Realty, said the post-lockdown surge of real estate activity has led to a busy end of the year.

"What we've got at the moment is a surplus of buyers with approved finance ready to make a decision and not enough stock to satisfy the demand," he said.

Mr Mewton expects those genuine home buyers to ramp up their search over the next few weeks.

"The buyers might be slightly fewer over the Christmas break but they're not tire kickers, they're genuine people," he said.

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"They're very likely to have their finance already approved by now and they might be in a position where they can make you an offer and they can exchange a contract straightaway.

"I think there's another group of people that use the wind-down over the Christmas holidays to decide what they're going to do for 2022."

While there is the potential for serious inquiries and offers during quieter weeks, Mr Kirkland warned sellers not to expect property transactions to be any faster than normal.

"Many brokers, lawyers and banks have reduced hours of operation during this time period," he said.

"The process could take longer than you initially anticipated."

For sellers who may have missed the chance to list their property ahead of Christmas, Mr Mewton said it's a good time to prepare your home for sale.

"My suggestion is relax and enjoy Christmas with the family," he said, "but make sure that you've got your house de-cluttered and ready for photos."

He said homes that are "competitively priced and beautifully presented" are more likely to attract a strong offer in the new year.

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