Published October 18, 2026 in Market Update

Ocean County inventory rose, but sales rose too

By Vin Antonucci Realtor

Real estate, Ocean County

Hi, I'm Vincent, your trusted real estate agent! Whether you're looking to sell, buy, or just understand what your Ocean County home is worth right now, this post is for you.

The biggest thing to know: inventory rose, but so did sales. That matters because more supply did not slow buyers down. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 680 homes for sale across Ocean County in the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is up 11.7% from the same period in 2025. Yet 751 homes sold, up 7.9% from a year before. Sellers have more competition. Buyers have more choices. Neither side is running the table.

Nationally, Realtor.com reported that active listings topped 1.16 million homes for sale in September 2026. That is the backdrop. Here in Ocean County, the Real Estate Data Aggregator shows the same direction, but buyers are still moving. Pending sales across the county reached 794, up 6% from a year before. That is not a stalled market.

Rates are a real headwind, and worth knowing

Realtor.com reported that mortgage rates surged above 7% for the first time since January 2025. Fannie Mae, as reported by CNBC, forecast the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.4% for the fourth quarter of 2026 and 7.5% for all of 2027. Higher rates make monthly payments bigger. That is a real cost for buyers. It also explains why some sellers are not getting their full ask.

Realtor.com also reported that 20.8% of listings nationally had a price cut in September 2026, the highest share since October 2022. Not every Ocean County home faces that, but it is worth knowing before you pick a list price.

What each ZIP code looks like

The county total tells one story. Each ZIP tells another. Here is how the Real Estate Data Aggregator breaks it down for the three months ending August 31, 2026.

ZIP 08753: the busiest market in the county

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 245 homes sold in ZIP 08753 in the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is up 10.9% from a year before. The median sale price reached $560,000, up 6.7%. Homes sat on the market a median of 24 days, one day shorter than the same period in 2025. Sellers averaged 100.3% of their list price. 40% of homes sold above list, up 4.2 points from last year. Supply sits at 2.8 months, down slightly. This ZIP is moving.

ZIP 08723: prices dipped, but speed picked up

The Real Estate Data Aggregator recorded a median sale price of $520,000 in ZIP 08723 for the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is down 1% from a year before, a small dip worth noting. But 142 homes sold, up 9.2%. Homes went under contract in a median of 22 days, three days faster than last year. Sellers still averaged 100.5% of list price. The price slipped a little, but buyers did not disappear.

ZIP 08724: the fastest ZIP in the county

ZIP 08724 had the shortest median days on market of any ZIP covered here. The Real Estate Data Aggregator put it at 20 days for the three months ending August 31, 2026, one day shorter than a year before. The median sale price was $499,750, down 1% from 2025. Sellers averaged 100.8% of list price, the highest ratio in the county. Homes for sale rose 27.7%, the biggest inventory jump of any ZIP. More choices for buyers, but homes are still moving quickly.

ZIP 08755: prices fell more, but pending sales jumped

This ZIP had the sharpest price drop in the county. The Real Estate Data Aggregator showed a median sale price of $432,500 in ZIP 08755 for the three months ending August 31, 2026, down 8.4% from a year before. Homes took a median of 38 days to sell. Sellers averaged 98.9% of list price, meaning most homes sold slightly below ask. That said, pending sales jumped 29.6% from a year ago. Buyers are still showing up. Pricing matters more here than in other ZIPs.

ZIP 08751: the highest prices, the longest wait

ZIP 08751 had the highest median sale price in the county. The Real Estate Data Aggregator put it at $837,000 for the three months ending August 31, 2026, up 24% from the same period in 2025. That is a big move. But homes took a median of 67 days to sell, 20 days longer than a year before. Supply sits at 5.7 months, the highest of any ZIP. Sellers averaged 97.2% of list price. Pending sales rose 45.9%. This ZIP is active, but patience matters.

ZIP 08740: a small market, still moving

ZIP 08740 is the smallest market in this group. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 15 homes sold in the three months ending August 31, 2026, unchanged from a year before. The median sale price was $449,000, up 5.6%. Homes sold in a median of 23 days, eight days faster than last year. Supply is just 1.8 months. With only 9 homes for sale, this ZIP moves on small numbers. One or two sales can shift the picture quickly.

The bigger picture: rates and national inventory

The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported that U.S. house prices rose 2.6% from July 2025 to July 2026. Ocean County's price gains in most ZIPs are running ahead of that national figure. That is a sign of local strength, even as rates climb.

CNBC reported that about 150,000 homeowners with adjustable-rate mortgages face their first rate adjustment this year. If you are one of them, knowing your home's current value is a practical first step before you decide what to do next.

One more thing: the county total and even the ZIP code numbers are averages. One street can read very differently from the whole ZIP. If you want to know what is happening right where you live, I am happy to take a closer look. If you're looking for someone who knows Ocean County street by street and will give you a straight read, look no further than me. Reply to this post or text me and let's talk about your specific address.