Published October 4, 2026 in Market Update

More homes are on the market, but buyers are still taking their time

By Mitch Cohen & The Real Estate Boss Team!

Real estate, Primary market

Look at this. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 851 homes for sale across the Primary market in the three months ending July 31, 2026. That is up 9% from a year ago. At the same time, pending sales fell 5.2% to 1,012. More supply, fewer buyers moving fast. That is the story right now, okay?

And it is not just here. The National Association of Realtors says national supply hit 4.9 months, the highest in over ten years. Realtor.com reported active listings up 6.3% from a year ago, the fastest pace in at least six months. Buyers have more to look at everywhere. That gives them more time to think.

Rates are not helping buyers move faster either. Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed rate at 7.28% as of October 1, 2026. Realtor.com reported rates crossed 7% in late September for the first time since January 2025. Realtor.com also noted rates rose nearly 40 basis points over the past four weeks. That slows decisions.

ZIP by ZIP: the picture is not the same everywhere

Check this out. Some ZIPs are moving fast. Others are sitting longer. You gotta see this side by side.

Where things are moving fast

ZIP 07733 is insane right now. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows the median sale price there at $1,194,500. Homes sat just 15 days on market. Sellers got 104.7% of list price on average. And 68.2% of homes sold above list. That is the strongest above-list share in this whole market.

ZIP 07746 is right there with it. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted a median sale price of $930,000, up 18.5% from a year ago. Homes sold in just 14 days on average, 10 days shorter than last year. And 61.8% sold above list, up 7.7 points. Pending sales there rose 10.4%. That ZIP is doing something.

Where buyers are taking longer

ZIP 08831 and ZIP 08857 are a different story. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows 08831 at a median of 70 days on market, up 9 days from a year ago. That is a long time to wait. ZIP 08857 sat 65 days, up 13 days from last year. Both ZIPs have months of supply above 3. Pricing and prep matter more in these areas.

That said, 08831 had some good news too. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows the median sale price there rose 15.1% to $537,500. And 36.5% of homes sold above list, up 9.6 points. So even a slower ZIP can have real strength in it, if the home is priced right.

Price changes: a mixed bag

Prices dipped a little in some ZIPs. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows ZIP 07751 down 10.7% to $735,000. ZIP 07726 fell 3.6% to $713,220. Honest admission: fewer sales happened in both. ZIP 07726 sold 169 homes, down 2.3%. ZIP 07751 sold 48, down 25%. Fewer sales can move the median in either direction.

On the other side, ZIP 07728 rose 5.7% to $607,500. ZIP 08831 rose 15.1% to $537,500. ZIP 08857 rose 4% to $649,900. The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported U.S. house prices rose 2.1% year over year between the second quarter of 2025 and the second quarter of 2026. Several ZIPs here are beating that.

What this means for you

If you are selling, you have got more competition than a year ago. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows new listings across the Primary market up 3.4% to 1,194. But homes sold fell 3.3% to 907. That math means pricing and condition matter more now. The well-priced home still sells fast and above list in most ZIPs.

If you are buying, you have more choice. But rates at 7.28%, per Freddie Mac, mean your monthly payment is real. Realtor.com reported the number of homes under contract is down 4.1% year over year nationally. Buyers are being careful. That is okay. Just know which ZIPs are still moving fast, because those will not wait.