Published October 11, 2026 in Market Update

Ocean County has more listings, but buyers are still moving

By Vin Antonucci Realtor

Real estate, Ocean County

Hi, I'm Vincent, your trusted real estate agent! Whether you're looking to buy, sell, or invest, here is what the numbers say about Ocean County right now, for the three months ending August 31, 2026.

The one fact that changes what you should do: the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 680 homes for sale across Ocean County, up 11.7% from a year ago. More choices for buyers. Still real demand for sellers.

The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows 751 homes sold, up 7.9%. So even with more listings, buyers are still closing deals. That is a healthy sign for sellers.

Pending sales countywide hit 794, up 6% from a year ago. Contracts are being signed. Demand has not gone quiet.

One thing to watch: CNBC reported the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose to 7.49% as of October 7, 2026. Realtor.com also noted rates surged above 7% for the first time since January 2025. Higher rates slow some buyers down. Not all, but some.

How each ZIP code looks

Not every corner of Ocean County tells the same story. Here is a side-by-side look at median sale price and days on market across the six ZIP codes the Real Estate Data Aggregator tracks.

Where prices moved up

ZIP 08753 saw a median sale price of $560,000, up 6.7% from a year ago, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. Homes there sold in a median of 24 days, one day faster than last year.

ZIP 08751 had the highest median sale price: $837,000, up 24% from a year ago. That is a big jump. But homes there took a median of 67 days to sell, which is 20 days longer than last year. Sellers there are getting more money, but they are waiting longer for it.

ZIP 08740 saw prices rise 5.6% to a median of $449,000. Homes there sold in a median of 23 days, 8 days faster than a year ago. Supply stayed tight at 1.8 months. All figures from the Real Estate Data Aggregator.

Where prices dipped a little

ZIP 08723 saw a median sale price of $520,000, down 1% from a year ago, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. That is a small dip. Homes still sold in 22 days, 3 days faster than last year. Buyers there are still active.

ZIP 08724 had a median sale price of $499,750, also down 1%. But 42.6% of homes sold above list price, and the median time to sell was just 20 days. The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows pending sales there up 5.8%.

ZIP 08755 saw the steepest price drop: a median of $432,500, down 8.4% from a year ago. Homes took a median of 38 days to sell. Not every home sold fast there. That said, pending sales jumped 29.6% year over year, per the Real Estate Data Aggregator. Buyers are circling.

Speed: how fast are homes moving?

Four of the six ZIP codes had a median under 25 days. That is quick. ZIP 08751 is the outlier at 67 days. If your home is in that ZIP, pricing matters more than ever right now.

The national picture adds context

Realtor.com reported that active listings nationally topped 1.16 million in September 2026. Ocean County's 680 homes for sale is a small slice, but it follows the same trend: more supply is coming to market.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported U.S. house prices rose 2.6% from July 2025 to July 2026. Ocean County's gains in ZIP 08753 (up 6.7%) and ZIP 08751 (up 24%) are running ahead of that national pace.

Realtor.com also noted that 20.8% of listings nationally had their price reduced in September 2026, the highest share since October 2022. That is a national figure, not an Ocean County count. But it is a reminder: pricing your home right from the start still matters.

On jobs: a source Redfin cited put September's national job creation at 29,000, with a three-month moving average of 51,000 and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. A softer job market can slow buyer confidence. Worth knowing.

One last thing: the countywide numbers tell one story. One street can read very differently from the whole ZIP code. If you're looking for someone who knows Ocean County block by block, look no further than me. Reply and let's talk about your specific address.