Parslows LLP has started 2026 on a note of cautious confidence after Mel Guest, Head of Residential Property, was invited by BBC Radio Jersey to discuss the state of the Island’s housing market on The Jenny Mullin Show, in an interview conducted by Senior Journalist Gemma Daubeney.
Speaking about activity levels and buyer sentiment, Mel Guest said the mood has shifted noticeably since the quieter period of 2023–24. “We’re seeing a lot more first-time buyers now, and some of the new developments have been flying off the shelves,” she explained. “At the same time, the high-end market is also moving much more quickly, which is a really healthy sign for the market as a whole.”
According to figures discussed in the interview, the Jersey property market as a whole recorded 1,103 residential property purchases last year — an average of around 22 transactions per week — and forecasts suggest values could rise by around 2% this year. For Parslows, this reflects a market that has found its feet again after the post-pandemic correction. “Prices have gone back to what they should be,” Mel said. “Hopefully, now buyers and sellers alike can get the best of what’s out there.”
The renewed momentum is being driven by activity across the entire ladder: first-time buyers stepping onto it, families upsizing, and others downsizing or relocating. “It’s across the market,” Mel noted. “We’re seeing people selling and moving to the UK or to places like France, others trading up, and a lot of first-time buyers coming through our doors.”
The early weeks of 2026 have already brought encouraging signs. “We’ve already had quite a few quotes accepted this year — and we’re only two weeks in,” Mel said. “Estate agents are saying they’ve been extremely busy with viewings, which is always a good indicator of confidence returning.”
That optimism, however, is not blind. Interest rates remain the main unknown. “If rates don’t come down, that could be an issue,” Mel acknowledged. “But overall, the mood is far more positive than it’s been for a while.”
For Parslows LLP, the hope is simple: a return to a stable, functioning market where sensible pricing, steady demand, and realistic expectations replace the boom-and-bust cycles of recent years. As Mel put it, “It can’t get worse than it was — and all the signs suggest we’re finally moving in the right direction.”
In a market that has weathered its storms, 2026 is beginning to feel less like a gamble and more like a measured, hopeful new chapter.
Thinking of buying, selling, or moving in 2026?
If you’d like expert, straight-talking advice on your next move, call us on +44 (0)1534 630530 or contact the Parslows Residential Property team today.