Buy Before Christmas Guide

If you want to move into your new place on the Redcliffe Peninsula or in Moreton Bay before Christmas, now’s the right time to get organised. Spring means the property market is waking up and fresh listings start to appear, but December always arrives much faster than you expect. Whether you want to host family at your new address or just relax with your tree up, working backwards from your ideal move-in date is the way to stay in front. A bit of planning now could make a big difference when the holiday period starts to slow things down.

Between bank closures, fewer solicitors working, and shorter agent hours in December, timelines tend to get squeezed more than anyone hopes. If you don’t prepare early, you can easily miss out on your plans for a Christmas move. Here’s what to do each month to stay ahead of the crowd and avoid racing the calendar.

Start Your Property Search in Spring

The best time to start looking is early spring. Listings pick up, giving you more to work with across Redcliffe Peninsula and Moreton Bay. Buyers who start in September or October have time to comfortably explore open house options, attend inspections, and work out what they want. This way you’re not only relying on what is left over in late November.

If you’re set on waterfront living, Newport gives you options to see marina views and plenty of lifestyle extras. If you need more everyday family perks, suburbs like Kippa-Ring or Clontarf should be on your shortlist. Redcliffe and Scarborough also have a steady mix of coastal and community appeal. Give yourself space to really compare the areas and decide what will help your new place feel like home.

Keep notes of properties you like, and schedule open homes for weekends so you can properly view several options in one go. Checking off places against your needs each week keeps you organised and confident when the right listing pops up.

Secure Loan Pre-Approval Early

Getting finance pre-approval is the step that makes everything else easier. It proves to sellers that you are serious, helps you know your spending limit, and removes the stress of chasing paperwork later on when things speed up.

Leaving finance to the last minute can lead to big delays. If you want to make an offer on a home in October or November, you need that pre-approval ready. Summer is when banks and brokers work at a slower pace, so sorting this out sooner gives you the freedom to move on a home straight away. Speak with your broker or bank in September and lock in your numbers, so you can focus on what’s out there rather than what you might afford.

Sorting your numbers early helps avoid wasted weekends on homes over your budget. Instead, you can spend your time checking homes you can actually buy and decide with confidence.

Product or Service Detail: Place Redcliffe Peninsula supports buyers by working alongside trusted local brokers, helping you to connect with finance professionals who understand local property values and lending timelines in the Redcliffe Peninsula and Moreton Bay region.

Get Ready to Make Quick Decisions

The property market across the Peninsula and Moreton Bay is moving. Houses often attract buyers quickly, and waiting too long can mean losing out on the best fit for you. If you know your must-haves and where you will (or won’t) compromise, you will be ready to make an offer when the right home comes up.

It really helps to sit down and work out your dealbreakers before you start inspecting. Decide how many bedrooms you need, if you want a big backyard, whether you will do light renovations, or if you want something fully finished. If you’re buying with a partner or family, get everyone clear on these items now.

Write your must-haves into a checklist and share your needs with your agent. When a property scores well with your criteria, you’ll have the confidence to move quickly. Open communication with your agent means you might also hear about off-market or coming-soon listings that never get advertised widely.

Product or Service Detail: Buyers working with Place Redcliffe Peninsula can opt to receive early-bird alerts for upcoming listings, which can give you the edge when timing matters.

Understand How Settlement Works

In Queensland, most property settlements run between 30 and 60 days from the signed contract date. This covers building and pest inspections, getting the finance in place, exchanging contracts, and all the paperwork.

If the plan is to be enjoying Christmas lunch in your new home, you will need your contract finalised by the start of November. Any later and you risk the handover sliding into January, which can mean dealing with school holidays and businesses that are closed for the Christmas and New Year period.

Map your plan in reverse from mid-December, allowing those four to eight weeks for the official process. Buyers who allow extra time for possible delays (like public holidays or slow processing) spend less time worrying if everything will line up. Start talking with your agent and legal adviser as soon as you are ready to make an offer, so nothing slows you down after you say yes.

Beat the Holiday Slowdown

Everything in real estate, including banks, legal offices, and trades, tends to hit pause by mid-December. If your settlement falls during this period, your moving date can get pushed out fast by annual shutdowns and full calendars.

Book your move in advance, sorting removalists, cleaners, and any last-minute tradies early. By giving yourself plenty of lead time, you avoid the stress of finding these services at the last minute, when most are already booked out. Double-check your settlement date, then arrange utilities, insurance, and keys for your new address to be ready before the break.

Aim to have the handover done by the middle of December, leaving yourself a buffer before offices close for the year and everyone turns their mind to the holidays.

Enjoy Christmas in Your New Place

There’s something pretty special about settling into a new home before Christmas. It means you get to relax and enjoy, rather than box up your belongings or worry about paperwork dragging on into the new year. With planning, it’s realistic to unpack, decorate, and settle in before the holiday season properly kicks off.

Stay on track by starting in September or October, sorting your finance, and making quick, confident offers once you find the right home. Moving early gives you the most choice, the smoothest run with banks and solicitors, and that all-important peace of mind. Plan now, and you could be spending Christmas exactly where you want to be.

Planning to settle into your new home on the Redcliffe Peninsula before Christmas? Now’s the time to act. Listings are already moving fast, and whether you’ve got your eye on a family-friendly home in Margate or something close to the water in Newport, we can help you find it. Our local team knows the area inside out and can guide you to the best fit for your budget and needs. Browse our current houses for sale on Redcliffe Peninsula and let Place Peninsula help you get the keys in your hand before the holiday rush kicks in.