Inventory continues to be one of the most important forces shaping today’s real estate market—but as is often the case in New Jersey, the local story looks very different from national headlines.

Using December 2025 data compared to the same period in 2024, we’re seeing meaningful differences in housing inventory across our core towns, paired with rising average list prices in many segments. Together, these trends offer valuable insight for both buyers and sellers heading into 2026.

Inventory remains tight in many of our most in-demand communities

Several Midtown Direct and top commuter towns are entering the new year with fewer homes for sale than last year, particularly at higher price points:

• Short Hills / Millburn
  Inventory increased slightly from 20 to 24 active listings
  Average list price: ~$3.07M
  Despite modest inventory growth, demand is strong but value-driven.
• Chatham Borough
  Inventory declined from 10 homes to 8 active listings.
  Average list price: ~$1.43M.
  Demand continues to outpace supply.
• Chatham Township
  Inventory dropped from 24 to 15 active listings.
  Average list price: ~$1.89M.
  One of the sharpest inventory contractions in our local market.
• Madison
  Inventory decreased from 17 to 13 active listings.
  Average list price: ~$1.49M.
  Fewer options, steady buyer demand.
• Summit
  Inventory declined from 24 to 17 active listings.
  Average list price: ~$1.87M.
  Well-located homes continue to draw strong interest.
• Westfield
  Inventory fell from 26 to 21 active listings.
  Average list price: ~$1.34M.
  Supply remains constrained in key neighborhoods.

Select towns are seeing more listings — but still balanced

A handful of towns are experiencing modest inventory growth, offering buyers more choice without shifting the market dramatically:

• Maplewood
  Inventory remained steady at 21 active listings.
  Average list price: ~$891K.
• South Orange
  Inventory increased from 16 to 26 active listings.
  Average list price: ~$834K.
  More options, but well-priced homes still move efficiently.
• Berkeley Heights
  Inventory rose from 7 to 16 active listings.
  Average list price: ~$727K.
  One of the few towns showing notable supply growth.
• New Providence
  Inventory increased from 9 to 11 active listings.
  Average list price: ~$1.23M.
  Still a low-inventory environment overall.

What this means for buyers in 2026

While some towns offer more choice than a year ago, inventory remains historically limited across much of our market. Buyers should continue to expect competition for well-priced homes. Understanding town-by-town dynamics remains critical.

What this means for sellers in 2026

For sellers, today’s market continues to reward preparation and strategy.

Where inventory is down year-over-year, conditions remain favorable—but pricing precision matters. Where inventory has increased, competition is more visible, making presentation, timing, and positioning even more important.

Homes that are launched with intention continue to outperform those that are not.

Why New Jersey continues to stand apart

Nationally, housing inventory has been recovering. Locally, many New Jersey communities remain structurally supply-constrained.

High equity levels, longer homeowner tenure, and fewer forced moves continue to limit new listings—especially in towns with strong schools and commuter access. As a result, local markets have remained resilient even as conditions normalize elsewhere.

Inventory & Average List Price Snapshot (December 2025 vs 2024)

Want a closer look at your neighborhood or price range?

Inventory behaves very differently by segment. If you’d like insight into what buyers are responding to right now in your town—or how current inventory may impact your next move, we are always happy to help.