As the first signs of spring awaken neighborhoods across the Garden State, New Jersey’s real estate market is beginning to show signs of renewed life—even amid ongoing challenges with low housing inventory and high prices. According to the latest data from Realtor.com, March 2025 brought a much-needed spike in active home listings, breathing cautious optimism into a market that has struggled for balance over the past year.
Signs of Growth in a Tight Market
Despite persistent concerns over limited housing stock, March marked a turning point in listing activity across the state. New Jersey saw 13,143 active home listings, including nearly 9,000 new properties hitting the market. That figure represents a 14.57% increase from March 2024 and a 10.9% jump from February 2025, signaling a positive shift as buyers begin to emerge from the winter lull and sellers start to test the spring market.
The median listing price statewide reached $550,000, reflecting a modest 0.18% increase year-over-year and a 0.93% uptick from the previous month. While prices continue to rise—albeit more slowly—this increase in inventory offers a glimmer of hope for buyers still facing a competitive landscape.
Faster Market Movement
One of the more encouraging signs is the speed at which homes are moving. Properties in New Jersey stayed on the market for an average of 33 days in March, which is 8.33% less time than in March 2024 and 25% less time than in February. This accelerated pace suggests that while more homes are becoming available, demand remains strong, and well-priced listings are being quickly absorbed.
County-Level Insights: North Jersey in Focus
Zooming in on North Jersey, the spring thaw has been particularly noticeable, with every county in the region reporting month-over-month growth in new listings. Here’s how March played out across six of North Jersey’s key counties:
Compared to March 2024:
- Passaic County added 284 new listings, up 12.7% year-over-year.
- Essex County saw a significant 21.93% jump, with 556 new listings.
- Sussex County posted a modest 1.85% increase, with 220 new listings.
- Hudson County led the pack with 524 new listings, a remarkable 39.36% increase.
- Bergen County held steady with 756 new listings, nearly identical to last year.
- Morris County, the only outlier, saw a slight 0.85% decrease, totaling 464 new listings.
Compared to February 2025:
All six North Jersey counties experienced robust month-to-month growth:
- Bergen: +27.7%
- Passaic: +40.59%
- Morris: +54.67%
- Essex: +34.95%
- Sussex: +52.78%
- Hudson: +39.36%
The consistency in this increase across all 21 counties in the state—each experiencing at least a 10% rise in new listings from February—speaks to a broader seasonal rebound that could shape the trajectory of the 2025 housing market.
What This Means for Buyers and Sellers
For buyers, the uptick in inventory means more options—and potentially a slight easing of bidding wars that have dominated the landscape in recent years. However, continued price growth and quick market turnaround times still present challenges, especially for first-time homebuyers navigating high interest rates and affordability issues.
For sellers, this moment presents opportunity. With buyer demand still strong and homes moving swiftly, those ready to list may find the spring season to be an ideal time to enter the market—especially before any potential summer slowdowns.
Looking Ahead
While it’s too early to declare a full-fledged market recovery, the March data offers a cautiously optimistic outlook. The spring season often serves as a bellwether for the rest of the year, and if the current momentum continues, New Jersey’s real estate market could see improved stability through the summer months.
However, experts caution that broader inventory issues, rising construction costs, and high mortgage rates could still temper growth. For now, though, the Garden State is enjoying a much-needed breath of fresh air in an otherwise tight housing climate.
Fast Facts: March 2025 NJ Real Estate Snapshot
- 📈 Active Listings: 13,143 (+14.57% YoY | +10.9% MoM)
- 🏠 New Listings: ~9,000
- 💰 Median Listing Price: $550,000 (+0.18% YoY | +0.93% MoM)
- ⏱ Average Time on Market: 33 days (↓8.33% YoY | ↓25% MoM)
Whether you’re looking to buy, sell, or simply stay informed, New Jersey’s housing market continues to offer both challenges and opportunities—and March’s numbers suggest the tide may be starting to turn.
