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Although holidays often stretch budgets, buyer’s agents should encourage their clients to use the slower period to maintain discipline, sharpen their strategy, and make decisions based on analysis, not emotion.
Every year, the holiday period puts strain on investors’ wallets, often eroding savings, impacting deposit levels and borrowing capacity.
Yet, Nelis Group director and lead buyer’s agent, James Nelis, said the holiday slowdown is the right time for investors to review their portfolios, protect cash flow, and refine their strategy.
“It’s also the perfect opportunity to review existing property expenses, rental income, and equity position heading into the new year,” Nelis told REB.
“By keeping a close eye on financial foundations and not letting spending habits drift, investors prevent short-term choices from derailing the strategy they’ve spent the year building.”
He said that even in slower markets, when opportunities can look appealing, investors should act only on properties that meet their strategy, due diligence, and non-negotiables.
Nelis said that by doing a quick but effective portfolio analysis, buyers will avoid emotional decisions, positioning them for stronger opportunities in 2026.
“Quiet months are for sharpening the axe. The more structured your preparation is, the less likely you are to drift into emotional decisions or chase deals that don’t fit your plan.”
According to Nelis, over the years, the silly season has been ideal for groundwork rather than deal-chasing.
He said that investors can use the holidays to review long-term growth drivers, update suburb shortlists, analyse vacancy and rental trends, and explore infrastructure or planning reports.
“This period is also perfect for desktop due diligence on properties that don’t make the cut or recent sales, allowing investors to deepen research, build clarity, and enter the new year confident without compromising strategy.”
While investors can take advantage of the holiday period to relax, Nelis said they should remain aware of their property goal and stay disciplined with money to avoid affecting their borrowing capacity.
“Treat the holidays like an off-season in sports: rest, but don’t lose conditioning,” Nelis said.
Nelis said investors should perform light, consistent portfolio check-ins, review long-term projections for equity and borrowing, and set boundaries so they can rest.
“Relaxation and discipline aren’t opposites – they reinforce each other when intentional.”
He also encouraged investors to use the holidays to update action plans, reconnect with their goals, and plan early 2026 meetings to build momentum and position themselves for a strong year ahead.
To be successful in 2026, Nelis said that investors should remain patient, disciplined, process-oriented, emotionally neutral, and self-aware, making decisions based on data rather than market noise.
“Confidence comes from clarity, and stress comes from uncertainty, and the more structured your process is, the calmer you’ll be at any time of year and any market type,” Nelis concluded.
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