Bergen + Essex County Market Pulse: Week of July 25, 2026

A locally focused look at what is happening in the Bergen and Essex County housing markets this week, how buyers and sellers are navigating more inventory, and what the latest mortgage and economic data mean for North Jersey homeowners.

Bergen and Essex County Market Pulse weekly real estate and mortgage report cover graphic

Market Overview: More Choices, Still Competitive

Bergen and Essex Counties remain competitive, but the market is becoming more selective as inventory improves and affordability continues to shape buyer behavior. With more listings on the market, buyers can compare condition, taxes, and total monthly payment more carefully, while sellers are learning that strategy and presentation matter when buyers have options.

The latest full-month NJ REALTORS data now covers June 2026, giving us a fresh look at closed activity, pricing, days on market, and available supply. The big takeaway: prices remain firm, especially for single-family homes, but buyers are gaining more choices in several segments.

Bergen County Housing Snapshot (June 2026 — NJ REALTORS)

Single-Family Homes: Strong Pricing Power With Limited Supply

Single-family homes:

New listings: 806
Closed sales: 584
Median sale price: $946,000
Days on market: 28
Average percentage of list price received: 105.5%
Homes available for sale: 1,066
Months of supply: 2.5

What stands out: Bergen County single-family homes are still showing strong pricing power. Even with more available homes, the market remains supply-sensitive, with sellers still receiving above list price on average for well-positioned single-family properties.

Townhouses and Condos: More Balance, Still Active

Townhouses and condos:

New listings: 333
Closed sales: 207
Median sale price: $575,000
Days on market: 39
Average percentage of list price received: 100.8%
Homes available for sale: 655
Months of supply: 3.7

For townhomes and condos, the data points to more breathing room for buyers compared with single-family homes. With 3.7 months of supply and a median sale price of $575,000, this segment can appeal to buyers comparing monthly payments across different property types and locations in Bergen County.

Essex County Housing Snapshot (June 2026 — NJ REALTORS)

Single-Family Homes: One of New Jersey’s Strongest Seller Markets

Single-family homes:

New listings: 524
Closed sales: 361
Median sale price: $961,000
Days on market: 23
Average percentage of list price received: 112.2%
Homes available for sale: 659
Months of supply: 2.3

What stands out: Essex County remains one of the strongest seller-favored markets in New Jersey, especially in the single-family segment. The average percentage of list price received shows buyers are still competing aggressively for the right homes.

Townhouses and Condos: Competitive but Slightly Less Intense

Townhouses and condos:

New listings: 132
Closed sales: 95
Median sale price: $560,000
Days on market: 32
Average percentage of list price received: 104.3%
Homes available for sale: 199
Months of supply: 2.8

For Essex County condo and townhome buyers, this data confirms that competition remains real, but there is a bit more room to evaluate options than in the most competitive single-family neighborhoods. With a median sale price of $560,000 and 2.8 months of supply, this segment often serves buyers who are comparing against single-family homes in nearby towns or against renting in the region.

Current Market Pace: Realtor.com June 2026 View

Bergen County: Faster Market with More Listings

Median listing price: $799,000
Active listings: approximately 2,300
Median days on market: 24
Active listings: up 11.17% year over year
Median sale-to-list ratio: approximately 104%

Essex County: High Sale-to-List Ratios

Median listing price: $582,500
Active listings: 2,390
Median days on market: 26
Active listings: up 13.05% year over year
Median sale-to-list ratio: approximately 106%

? Market takeaway: Inventory is improving, but this is not a soft market. The best homes are still moving quickly, and buyers are still paying above asking in many situations. The difference now is that buyers have more ability to compare options, condition, taxes, and total monthly payment.

What This Means for Buyers and Sellers in North Jersey

For Buyers: Preparation and Clarity Around Payment

For buyers: More listings create opportunity, but preparation still matters. If a home is priced well, updated, and in a strong location, waiting too long can still mean missing it. In practical terms, that can mean having updated pre-approval documentation, knowing your comfortable monthly payment range, and being ready to evaluate taxes, HOA fees, and renovation needs quickly when the right home appears.

For Sellers: Strategy, Presentation, and Realistic Pricing

For sellers: The market is still favorable, but buyers are more selective than they were earlier in the spring. Pricing, condition, photos, staging, and launch strategy matter more when buyers have more alternatives. In Bergen and Essex, that often means carefully comparing your home to recent nearby sales, paying attention to days on market, and working with your agent on a clear plan for showings, open houses, and online presentation.

? Pro Tip for data-minded readers: Think in terms of months_of_supply, median_days_on_market, and sale_to_list_ratio as your core metrics when evaluating how competitive a specific segment feels.

Featured Premium Listing: Top of the Bergen County Market

FEATURED PREMIUM LISTING:

675 Ramapo Valley Road, Mahwah, NJ 07430
Listed at $19,000,000

This restored historic Bergen County estate sits on more than 12 acres and has been marketed as an approximately 50,000-square-foot property with major scale, privacy, and mountain views. It is the kind of listing that gives readers a real sense of the very top of the North Jersey estate market.

Link: 675-Ramapo-Valley-Rd-Mahwah

Listing availability and pricing should be verified directly before relying on the information, as property status can change.

Featured Mid-Level Listing: Essex County Move-Up Profile

FEATURED MID-LEVEL LISTING:

38 Burroughs Way, Maplewood, NJ 07040
Listed at $789,000

This three-bedroom Maplewood home fits the mid-level Essex County buyer profile well. It offers character, a tree-lined location, and a price point that remains highly relevant for move-up buyers, first-time buyers stretching into Essex County, and buyers comparing single-family options against townhome and condo alternatives.

Link: 38-Burroughs-Way-Maplewood

Listing availability and pricing should be verified directly before relying on the information, as property status can change.

Mortgage Market Update (Market Commentary Only — Not a Rate Quote)

Freddie Mac reported that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.58% as of July 23, 2026, up from 6.55% the prior week. The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 5.96%, up from 5.93% the prior week. These are national survey averages from Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey and are provided for market education only. They are not a rate quote, APR, loan estimate, approval, or commitment to lend.

The Mortgage Bankers Association also reported that total mortgage applications increased 1.9% for the week ending July 17, showing that buyers are still active even with affordability pressure.

Market Pulse Insight: This is the market in one sentence: buyers may have more homes to choose from, but payment strategy still matters. For buyers, that means running updated numbers, understanding monthly comfort, and looking at the full structure of the deal. For sellers and agents, it means credits, pricing strategy, and condition can all play a role in helping serious buyers move forward.

Actual mortgage pricing depends on borrower qualifications, credit profile, occupancy, loan program, property type, down payment, assets, debts, reserves, lock period, discount points, loan amount, and market conditions.