NJ Real Estate Market Report — April 2026

Data note: All figures in this report reflect April 2026 data sourced from the Redfin Data Center. Published May 22, 2026.

Spring is fully on. March hinted at the speed-up — April confirmed it. Across the 12 NJ counties I track, days on market compressed further in every high-demand market, Essex pushed its sale-to-list ratio to a new peak for the year, and Morris County is now moving homes in under three weeks.

The headline number: Morris County hit 17-day median days on market — the fastest reading of any county I've recorded in 2026. At 105.2% sale-to-list, that market isn't just fast, it's competitive.

The counter-narrative: inventory is building in Bergen (3,161 listings), Ocean (3,554), and Middlesex (2,850). Those counties are shifting in the buyer's direction even as prices inch up. April is a market of sharp contrasts by geography.

Here's the full picture.

Morris & Monmouth: Speed Leaders

Morris County is the standout data point in April. DOM dropped to 17 days — down from 25 in March — with 1,322 active listings and a 105.21% sale-to-list ratio. Median price hit $698K (+1.2% YoY). Month-over-month that's a $38K jump from March's $660K, driven by the mix of homes closing in April, but the trend is clear: this market is tighter and faster than it looks on paper.

Monmouth County followed suit at 21 days DOM — also down from 27 in March — with $723K median (+3.3% YoY) and a 101.19% sale-to-list ratio. At 2,313 active listings, Monmouth has more breathing room than Morris, but the trajectory points the same direction.

Union County matched Monmouth at 21 days, though its price story is more complicated (see below).

Essex: 107% Sale-to-List — Spring Peak

Essex County reached 107.07% sale-to-list in April — the highest reading of any county this year and up from 106.5% in March. That means the average Essex home is closing roughly $48,000 above asking on a $684K median. With 2,191 active listings (up from 1,295 in March as spring inventory opened), supply is loosening — yet competition is intensifying. Buyers are absorbing the new supply faster than it's hitting.

DOM dropped to 36 days (from 49 in March) — a 27% compression in a single month. That's a decisive signal that spring urgency, not just listing mix, is driving the pace.

If you're buying in Montclair, Nutley, or South Orange, the math is simple: budget 5–8% above asking, have your escalation clause ready, and don't wait for a second showing.

Hudson County: Still the Appreciation Leader

Hudson County posted $753K median (+9.5% YoY) — the largest year-over-year appreciation of any county this month. At 2,155 active listings, inventory jumped significantly from March's 1,303, yet prices continued climbing. That's a demand signal: buyers are absorbing new supply without hesitating on price.

DOM came in at 51 days, steady from March's 53. The 99.79% sale-to-list ratio is more modest than Morris or Essex — Hudson is strong but not frenzied. Jersey City and Hoboken are doing the heavy lifting on appreciation; the county average masks just how competitive the waterfront submarkets are.

The Price Dip: Union & Middlesex

Union County is the most interesting data point this month. DOM is just 21 days and the sale-to-list ratio is 104.11% — both numbers screaming competitive market. Yet median price sits at $661K, which is -5.6% year-over-year. How do you reconcile fast DOM and above-ask prices with a YoY price decline?

The answer is likely mix shift: the homes that closed in April skewed toward smaller or lower-price-tier properties compared to last April's closings. The underlying demand is intact — this isn't a market softening, it's a composition effect. Watch the next 2–3 months before drawing conclusions about Union's trajectory.

Middlesex County posted $530K (-0.9% YoY) with 2,850 active listings — the third-highest inventory in the state. At 68 days DOM, it's one of the slower markets. But the 101.03% sale-to-list ratio tells you well-priced homes are still clearing asking. This is the county where buyers have the most options and the least competitive pressure.

Somerset: Tightest Supply, Highest Score

Somerset County remains the tightest market in the state with just 919 active listings — roughly a quarter of Bergen's supply. At 52/100 it's the only county in balanced market territory this month. Median price is $621K (+4.9% YoY) with a 103.07% sale-to-list ratio and 20-day DOM.

For buyers who want strong schools, short commutes to NYC (Raritan Valley line), and a faster-moving market than Bergen or Middlesex, Somerset is consistently underrated. The supply constraint isn't going away.

Inventory Watch: Bergen & Ocean

The two counties to watch for buyer opportunity are the ones with the most supply:

Bergen County has 3,161 active listings — the second-highest in the state — with 68-day DOM and a 102.27% sale-to-list ratio. Median price is $778K (+3.7% YoY). Prices are still climbing but buyers have time, selection, and some negotiating room. If you've been priced out or rushed in Bergen, April is a better entry point than spring typically offers.

Ocean County leads all counties with 3,554 active listings at just $467K median (+1.6% YoY) and a 98.72% sale-to-list ratio — the only county averaging below asking price. Shore-area buyers who want leverage: this is your market.

Full County Breakdown — April 2026

What to Watch in May

Will Essex hold above 107%? That's the number I'm watching most closely. Sale-to-list ratios above 106% are rare and usually short-lived. If Essex stays there into May, it signals a structural supply shortage, not just a spring sprint.

Morris and Somerset supply. Morris (1,322) and Somerset (919) have the tightest inventory in the data. If new listings don't materialize in May, expect DOM to compress further and prices to push higher in both counties. First-time buyers who haven't acted in either market are running out of runway.

Hudson's absorption rate. Listings jumped from 1,303 in March to 2,155 in April — a 65% increase in active inventory. Yet prices rose. If Hudson continues absorbing new supply without DOM expansion through May, that's a strong signal the spring momentum is real and not just seasonal noise.

Find Your County

All 12 county dashboards are updated with April 2026 data — including 13-month price trend charts, inventory levels, DOM trends, price per sqft by city, and market health analysis.

• Morris County — 17-day DOM, 105.2% sale-to-list, spring's fastest market
• Essex County — 107.1% sale-to-list, deepest spring competition
• Hudson County — $753K, +9.5% YoY, leading appreciation
• Passaic County — $610K, +5.1% YoY, 104.2% sale-to-list
• Somerset County — tightest supply, only balanced market in the state
• Monmouth County — 21-day DOM, shore + suburbs moving fast
• Union County — 104.1% sale-to-list, fast despite YoY price dip
• Bergen County — most selection, 68-day DOM, buyer-friendly timing
• Middlesex County — 2,850 listings, most inventory options
• Ocean County — only below-ask county, highest inventory in the state
• Burlington County — $389K median, affordable entry, 34-day DOM
• Mercer County — Princeton corridor holding steady at $431K

Related Reading

• NJ Real Estate Market Report — March 2026 — last month's full data for comparison
• New Construction vs. Resale in NJ — relevant as spring listings peak
• NJ Closing Costs: What to Expect — budget the full picture before you offer

Market data sourced from Redfin Data Center, April 2026. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Past market trends are not a guarantee of future performance. Mahesh Sangisetty | NJ Licensed Realtor #2334343 | Boutique Realty