October 6, 2026
By Courtney Orlando, REALTOR® | Courtney Orlando Group | Compass Real Estate
When national housing headlines suggest that some markets are cooling, New Jersey homeowners may have a different story to consider.
Two recent reports offer encouraging perspective on the Garden State—but they also illustrate why national headlines should never replace a close look at the market surrounding your own home.
For homeowners considering a move, the important question isn't simply:
“Is New Jersey a strong real estate market?”
It is:
“What does today's market mean for my home, my neighborhood and my next move?”
New Jersey Is Showing Strength—but Every Home Is Different
An analysis by Underwood Law Firm using Redfin data ranked New Jersey as the third-most seller-friendly state among 48 states studied.
According to the analysis, 48.3% of New Jersey homes sold above asking price, compared with 10.9% in Florida, which ranked as the most difficult state for sellers in that analysis. The reported median sale price for New Jersey was $587,553.
Those numbers provide useful context.
But they should not be interpreted as a guarantee that every New Jersey seller will receive an offer above asking price.
Real estate is local.
A property's condition, location, price range, competition, presentation and timing can produce a very different result from a statewide statistic.
“Headlines provide perspective, but your next move deserves a closer look at your own neighborhood. Your home's condition, price range and competing listings help us determine a strategy that fits your goals.” — Courtney Orlando, REALTOR®
The Middle Atlantic Region Is Also Showing Price Growth
Another recent report points to broader regional strength.
The New York Post reported that Federal Housing Finance Agency data showed home prices across the Middle Atlantic division—New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania—increased 6.3% from July 2025 to July 2026, compared with a 2.6% increase nationally.
That is a meaningful regional difference.
But again, a regional statistic doesn't represent every New Jersey community or every individual property.
A home in one town can experience very different demand from a home only a few miles away.
That's why statewide and regional numbers are best viewed as context—not a pricing strategy.
What Does This Mean for Central and Northern New Jersey Sellers?
For homeowners throughout Central and Northern New Jersey—including communities in Morris, Somerset, Hunterdon, Essex and Middlesex counties—the starting point should be much more specific.
What have comparable homes actually sold for?
What properties are competing with yours today?
How long are those homes taking to sell?
What condition are they in?
What features are buyers responding to?
And where does your home realistically fit within that group?
Those questions provide considerably more useful information than simply looking at a national housing headline.
A Strong Market Still Requires a Strategy
A favorable market can create opportunity.
It doesn't eliminate the fundamentals of selling a home.
Preparation still matters.
Presentation still matters.
Pricing still matters.
And understanding the competition still matters.
“A favorable market still requires a clear plan. I want sellers to understand what supports their asking price and how we can help their home stand out.” — Courtney Orlando, REALTOR®
The goal isn't to chase the highest possible asking price simply because market headlines sound positive.
The goal is to establish a price and marketing strategy that is supported by the property's actual characteristics and current competition.
Buyers Are Still Doing Their Homework
The same principle applies to buyers.
A strong market doesn't mean buyers should simply pay whatever a seller is asking.
The asking price is only one part of the decision.
Buyers should consider:
- Recent comparable sales
- Property condition
- Property taxes
- Insurance costs
- Potential repairs
- Financing costs
- Neighborhood characteristics
- Long-term suitability
A home can look attractive online and still require a closer examination before a buyer commits.
“The right home should work for your life and your budget beyond closing day. My role is to help you understand the options and make a decision you feel comfortable with.” — Courtney Orlando
Your Next Move May Cross State Lines
Sometimes the next move isn't simply from one New Jersey town to another.
A homeowner may be considering New York.
Or Florida.
Or another state entirely.
That creates additional coordination when a sale and purchase need to happen together.
For clients considering an interstate move, the Courtney Orlando Group has an additional resource through teammate Patty Zariello, who is licensed in New York, New Jersey and Florida.
Combined with the broader Compass network, that connection can provide an additional resource for clients coordinating a New Jersey sale with a purchase in another state.
“Your sale and your next purchase should be part of the same conversation. We can bring the right people together and help you plan around your timing, budget and destination.” — Courtney Orlando
A Real Estate Move Is More Than a Transaction
Buying or selling a home is a major financial decision.
But for many people, the move represents something larger.
It's a new neighborhood.
A new commute.
New restaurants.
New activities.
New routines.
And eventually, a new sense of community.
That is one reason Courtney's connection to New Jersey extends beyond real estate.
From Real Estate to Recipes and Local Discoveries
Courtney has been working in real estate since 2002, but cooking has long been one of her personal interests.
She shares favorite recipes and cooking ideas through CourtneysCooking.com.
Her interest in helping people discover more of New Jersey also helped inspire JerseyFunAndFood.com, a resource focused on restaurants, activities and places to explore throughout the Garden State.
The idea is simple:
Finding a home is only one part of becoming connected to a place.
“Finding a house is one part of the move. Discovering your favorite restaurant, planning a weekend outing and feeling connected to your community are part of settling in.” — Courtney Orlando
Staying Connected After the Closing
That same philosophy comes together in Courtney's monthly newsletter, The Jersey Digest.
The newsletter brings together real estate insights with local recommendations, including vendor, restaurant and recipe features.
For homeowners, that means the relationship doesn't have to end when the transaction closes.
The real estate transaction may have a closing date.
The relationship doesn't have to.
The Bottom Line for New Jersey Homeowners
Recent data provide encouraging evidence that New Jersey continues to show resilience compared with some other housing markets.
But statewide and regional statistics should be the beginning of the conversation—not the conclusion.
For sellers, the most important questions remain local:
What is my home worth in today's market?
Who am I competing against?
What are buyers responding to?
How should my home be positioned?
For buyers, the questions are equally practical:
Does the home fit my budget?
What will ownership cost beyond the purchase price?
Does the property fit my life?
Is this a decision I will still feel good about after closing?
And if the move takes you outside New Jersey, the planning becomes even more important.
Thinking About Your Next Move?
Whether you're considering selling your Central or Northern New Jersey home, buying your next property, or planning a move across state lines, having a clear understanding of your options can make the process easier to navigate.
At the Courtney Orlando Group | Compass Real Estate, the goal isn't simply to help you complete a transaction.
It's to help you make an informed move—and remain a resource as you settle into what comes next.
Courtney Orlando, REALTOR®
Courtney Orlando Group | Compass Real Estate
Strategic. Trusted. Results-Driven.
Real estate markets vary by location, property type, price range and individual circumstances. Market statistics cited in this article represent broader geographic areas or specific data sets and should not be interpreted as a guarantee of performance for an individual property. Buyers and sellers should consult appropriate real estate, financial, legal and tax professionals regarding their specific circumstances.