Typically, the real estate market slows down over the holiday season. Buyers take a break from their home search, whether from fatigue or just the hustle and bustle of the holidays. And sellers tend to focus on gathering with loved ones instead of preparing to list. But, 2021 has proved to be anything but typical: What little inventory there was in the fourth quarter of the year was scooped up by eager buyers, closing out a huge year for real estate.