Yes it may be a panic scramble or a wake-up call for those who have been considering but not actually taken the plunge yet. Also the £ has been gaining value against the € recently, albeit from a low base, so buyers can buy around 8% more for their sterling than in the autumn.
Or maybe it's just a cyclical thing where the market has been quiet for a while and now it is due for an uptick.
Pity I can't find my crystal ball to see what will happen in the coming year!