If you have been wondering how the Ocean and Monmouth County real estate market is doing,
October has some good news to share.
We pulled the latest numbers for both counties from our local MLS, and then looked at the most recent county reports from NJ Realtors to see how each county is doing on its own. The short version: prices are up, buyers have more to choose from, and homes are still selling very close to their asking prices.
October brought higher prices and more homes to choose from
Start with the headline. The median sale price in October was $625,000, up 13.6% from $550,000 in October of last year. That is the highest monthly median of the past twelve months. The average sale price rose 13.8% to $797,263. For the year so far, the median sale price is $585,000, up 3.5% from $565,000 at this point last year.
Sellers are still being paid close to what they ask. Homes sold for an average of 99.8% of list price in October, and they took 39 days on average to sell, two days faster than last October's 41. Closings were nearly level with last year, with 1,265 homes sold compared with 1,299.
Buyers have more to look at, too. New listings were up 9.9% to 1,837, and there were 4,367 active listings, up from 3,696 a year ago. That works out to about 3.8 months of supply, which gives buyers room to compare homes and take the time they need to choose well.
For a closer look at each county, the most recent NJ Realtors reports cover September 2026, and they tell a similar story.
Monmouth County single-family homes are selling at or above asking
Let's start with Monmouth, because the single-family numbers are the kind we like to see. Homes sold in 31 days in September, three days faster than the same month last year. The median sales price came in at $811,500, up 2.7% from last September, and for the year so far the median is $810,000, which is 5.2% higher than this time last year.
Sellers were rewarded, too. On average, Monmouth single-family homes sold for 100.9% of their list price, so many closed right at the asking price or a little above it. Buyers had more to look at as well. New listings jumped 14.8% to 676 homes, and there were 1,280 homes for sale at the end of the month. More activity and more choice at the same time is a healthy place for a market to be.
Ocean County single-family homes are moving faster
Ocean County has picked up its pace too. Single-family homes there sold in 33 days in September, down from 39 days a year ago. That is six days quicker, which tells us that when a home is priced well and shows well, buyers are ready for it.
Prices are holding up nicely. September's median was $610,000, within about 2% of last September's $620,000, and the year-to-date median is $629,000, up 3.1%. Homes sold for 99.9% of list price, so sellers who priced thoughtfully got very close to their full asking price. Inventory sits at 1,552 homes, almost exactly where it was a year ago, so buyers have the same healthy selection they had then.
Condos and townhomes are climbing in both counties
Condos and townhomes are having a good year. In Monmouth, the median sales price reached $566,600 in September, up 6.9%, and these homes sold for an average of 100.3% of list price in 29 days.
In Ocean County, the September median was $414,495, up from $343,000 a year earlier. A single month with 54 closings can swing a median price quite a bit, so we also look at the full year, and the story there points the same way: the year-to-date median is $415,000, up 6.4%. New condo and townhome listings rose 12.8% to 106 homes, and there are 261 homes for sale, which gives buyers room to compare and take their time.
55+ communities are giving buyers more to choose from
In Ocean County's adult communities, there were 1,143 homes for sale at the end of September, up from 912 a year ago. For anyone looking at a 55+ move, that is a lot more to choose from. The median sales price was $329,000, up 2.8%, and year-to-date closings are 2,494 compared with 2,482 last year, so buyers are still showing up in full force.
Monmouth's 55+ market is smaller, with 57 closings in September, but the median sales price was $565,000, up from $520,000, and homes sold for 99.8% of list price. In our experience, buyers in these communities often arrive with equity from a longtime home, and the specific spot within a community can matter as much as the community itself. A home on the right street or near the clubhouse can stand out from the ones around it.
What this means if you are buying or selling
If you are selling, the numbers say your home has a good chance of being well received. Homes across both counties are closing very close to list price, Monmouth single-family homes are closing at or above it on average, and median prices are higher than they were a year ago. In our experience, the homes getting those results are the ones priced with today's market in mind from the first day. If you are curious where your own home would land, we are glad to run the numbers for your street, because county averages only tell part of the story.
If you are buying, you have more to look at than you did a year ago. Active listings are up about 18% across Ocean and Monmouth, Monmouth single-family listings are up, and Ocean County condos, townhomes and 55+ homes have noticeably more inventory. That means you can compare a few homes, ask questions, and choose the one that fits.
Quick answers
How is the Ocean and Monmouth County real estate market doing? The median sale price in October was $625,000, up 13.6% from last October, and homes sold for an average of 99.8% of list price. In the September NJ Realtors county reports, single-family median prices are higher year to date in both counties (Ocean up 3.1%, Monmouth up 5.2%).
Are homes selling above asking price in Monmouth County? On average, Monmouth single-family homes sold for 100.9% of list price in September, and condos and townhomes sold for 100.3%.
Is there more inventory for buyers? Yes. There were 4,367 active listings across Ocean and Monmouth in October, up from 3,696 a year ago. Ocean County condos and townhomes have 261 homes for sale, up 23.7%, Ocean County 55+ communities have 1,143, up 25.3%, and Monmouth single-family homes have 1,280, up 3.3%.
If you would like to talk through what these numbers mean for your own home or your own search, call us at 732-920-0900 or stop by our office at 870 Mantoloking Rd in Brick.
We are happy to sit down and go through it with you.
Sources: local MLS Market Summary for October 2026 (Residential, Ocean and Monmouth Counties), and NJ Realtors Local Market Update for September 2026, Ocean County and Monmouth County. County report median prices do not account for seller concessions or down payment assistance. Percent changes are calculated from rounded figures.
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