For the past couple of years, many homeowners in Ocean and Monmouth Counties have been asking the same question:

“Are buyers even out there right now?”

The short answer is yes.
But more importantly, the number of active buyers is starting to grow again.

Not overnight. Not dramatically.
But steadily enough that sellers should be paying attention.

Across the country, housing affordability has begun to ease after several years of pressure from rising rates and fast price growth. Mortgage rates are slightly lower than they were last year, price appreciation has moderated, and household incomes have continued to rise. None of those shifts alone changes the market, but together they start to make the numbers work for more buyers.

And when the numbers start working again, activity follows.

Why Affordability Matters More Than Headlines

Many homeowners focus on the headline number: mortgage rates.

Rates matter, but affordability is bigger than just the rate itself. It’s the combination of interest rates, home prices, and household income. When those three begin moving in a more balanced direction, more buyers qualify, and more importantly, more buyers feel confident enough to move forward.

We’ve seen this pattern before. Even small improvements in affordability tend to bring hesitant buyers back into the market. Not all at once, but gradually, as people who paused their plans start to reconsider what’s possible again.

That early shift in confidence is often what moves a market first.

What We’re Seeing Here in Ocean & Monmouth

Locally, the market never stopped, but it did slow into a more cautious rhythm.

Over the past year, buyers in our area have been more deliberate. Showings have been purposeful rather than casual. Many buyers are still active, but they’re watching pricing closely and taking longer to commit unless a home feels positioned correctly.

We’ve also seen a clear difference between homes that match buyer expectations and those that don’t. Well-priced properties, especially those that show cleanly and require minimal updates, are still moving. Homes that stretch above what buyers perceive as fair value tend to sit, even if they would have sold quickly a year or two ago.

Recently, though, there are signs that some of the buyers who paused are stepping back in. We’re seeing more showing requests after price adjustments, more serious follow-up conversations after first visits, and more buyers asking detailed timing questions instead of just browsing. That doesn’t signal a surge, but it does suggest confidence is beginning to return.

This is often how markets shift — not with a dramatic spike, but with a gradual increase in engagement that builds over time.

Why This Matters for Sellers Considering a Move

For homeowners thinking about selling this year, that shift matters.

When buyers start to feel that affordability is stabilizing, two things tend to happen. First, more buyers begin actively looking again. Second, existing buyers become more willing to make decisions instead of waiting on the sidelines.

That combination usually leads to stronger showing activity and more consistent offers for homes that are positioned correctly.

It doesn’t mean every listing will sell immediately. Pricing, condition, and presentation still matter enormously. But it does mean the environment is becoming more favorable than it was even a year ago, particularly for sellers who prepare thoughtfully and enter the market with realistic expectations.

Timing the Market vs. Understanding the Market

Some homeowners try to wait for the “perfect” moment to list.

In reality, the strongest results often come from understanding what buyers are doing right now and positioning a home to meet that demand.

Markets rarely shift in dramatic jumps. More often, they move in small, steady changes that reward sellers who act while buyer confidence is rising, rather than after competition increases.

If activity continues to build through the year, sellers who prepare early may find themselves entering the market with less competition than those who wait until conditions feel obviously busy again.

What Sellers Should Be Doing Now

If you’re considering selling in 2026, this is a good time to start preparing, even if your move is months away.

That can include understanding your home’s current value, seeing how competing homes are positioned locally, and getting a realistic sense of how today’s buyers are making decisions. Small preparation steps taken early often make the selling process smoother later.

You don’t have to list tomorrow. But clarity now gives you more control over your timing instead of reacting once you feel pressure to move.

The Bottom Line

Buyer demand in Ocean and Monmouth Counties isn’t surging.
But it is moving in a more positive direction.

Affordability pressures are easing slightly, more buyers are re-engaging, and the conditions that slowed activity over the past two years are gradually improving.

For homeowners considering a move, that’s a signal worth paying attention to.

If you want to understand what this shift could mean for your home and timing, the team at DeFelice Realty Group can help you look at the numbers and build a plan based on today’s market, not last year’s.