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Hackensack Real Estate Update: A Market in Transition, Not Decline

Hackensack Real Estate Update: A Market in Transition

April 17, 20262 min read

Hackensack Real Estate Update: A Market in Transition

There’s a question many people are asking right now: is the Hackensack real estate market starting to crash?

The short answer is no. But the market is changing, and understanding how is key.

Right now, we’re seeing three major shifts happening at the same time, and together, they’re reshaping the way buyers and sellers need to approach the market.

The first and most noticeable change is inventory. The number of homes for sale has surged, up nearly 200% year over year, bringing the market to about 3.8 months of supply. Compared to just a few months ago, buyers now have significantly more options, and sellers are facing more competition than they’ve seen in a while.

At the same time, prices are still rising. Home values are up about 2.5% year over year. That means the market isn’t declining, it’s simply stabilizing. Instead of rapid price jumps, we’re seeing a more balanced and sustainable pace of growth.

The third shift is timing. Homes are taking longer to sell, with average days on market now around 46 days, up from under 30 earlier this year. Buyers are no longer rushing into decisions. They’re taking their time, comparing options, and negotiating more confidently.

And yet, demand hasn’t disappeared. Pending sales have jumped significantly month over month, showing that serious buyers are still very active. They’re just being more selective.

What This Means Right Now

We’re moving away from an extreme seller’s market into something more balanced. And in this kind of market, outcomes depend heavily on strategy.

For sellers, that means:

  • Pricing your home correctly from day one

  • Investing in presentation and condition

  • Understanding that buyers have more choices

For buyers, this shift creates real opportunity:

  • More inventory to choose from

  • Greater ability to negotiate

  • Less pressure to make rushed decisions

Well-positioned homes are still selling close to full value, with sale-to-list ratios around 99%. The difference now is that not every home gets that result automatically.

The Bottom Line

This is not a crashing market. It’s a rebalancing one.

The urgency of the past few years is easing, and we’re entering a more normal, healthier market where both buyers and sellers need to be strategic.

If you’re thinking about making a move in Hackensack, understanding how to navigate this shift is what will ultimately determine your success. If you're thinking about making a real estate move, call or text me at 973-662-4913.

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Our 6 Step Buyers Process

Beginning your home search can be an overwhelming and daunting task. Because of that, our team makes sure that you, and all other potential buyers, understand each of the 8 steps that we take to make the process as easy and painless as possible. By the end of your search, with our support and guidance, you will live happily ever after in your new, dream home.

Financially Map Out Your Success

Our agents get to know you — Need to move for a job? Want a shorter commute? Getting married? Having a baby? Need to upgrade or downsize? At this stage in the process, we’ll send you notifications about the listings that you’re most likely to be excited about. Be sure to let us know if one (or more) jumps out at you so that we can skip to the next step and schedule a viewing. be there for you every step of the way.

Success for each person looks different. A growing family or new empty-nesters have different needs. Our goal is to map out your goals financially to get a good understanding of what you need in a home but also what makes the most sense for your specific situation - both from a time and money perspective.

Buyer Matching & Office Exclusives

We’ll introduce you to our mortgage partner, who can help you determine your buying price range with confidence. Be prepared to dig into paperwork during this part of the process such as pay stubs, W2’s, and tax returns. The lender will do a full review and then tell you what you will be able to borrow in order to purchase a home. This is a vital step in the home buying process!

During this process, we will be sending you some listings to evaluate and provide us with feedback. This helps us to understand, update and revise your criteria and preferences. Our agents are always super involved in the community so they can provide you with tons of information about the areas you are interested in. We will also use this information to setup notifications of listings to you and evaluate any office exclusives (homes that are not yet listed in the MLS) so you are the first to see the property.

Let the Showings Begin

Here’s where the buying process gets really fun! We’ll attend open houses together and schedule viewings of the homes that you’ve loved from our listing alerts. Many of our clients prefer us to consolidate to one day of searching or have specific times that work for them. We handle all the coordination so you just have to show up! We’ll talk about how the budget will work and make sure that we find you the perfect home.

Strategic Negotiations

When you’re ready to make an offer, your agent will present a written offer to the seller. We also present your offer using video to help make a bigger impact and showcase our commitment to the sale of the home. And while everyone loves getting their offer accepted right away, the seller could come back to us with a counteroffer, or reject your initial offer all together. We’re happy to walk you through each of these possibilities and exactly how to handle them. Once the offer is accepted, it’s time to get your financing in order and move forward to the next step!

Prep for Close

The sellers accepted your offer, and the home is going through appraisal and inspection. The appraisal guarantees that the price of the property matches the condition of the property while the inspection makes sure that everything in the home is functioning properly and there are no major issues inside. These are the last steps before the shiny keys to your home are placed in your hand... for good!

Segue to Your Next Chapter

Get excited because it’s time to close on your home! This process includes going through all of the final paperwork and signing your name (a lot!). Don't forget to bring all of the paperwork you’ve collected along the way and your down payment.

But we know it doesn't stop here. You likely have a lot to coordinate, movers, painters, handymen etc. We will help you to SEGue into your next chapter seamlessly. Even make some introductions to some neighbors! You can count on us!

Ready to find your dream home?

Let us help you make that happen!

Client Care: (201) 500-2212

82 N. Summit Street, Tenafly NJ 07670

Stacy Esser Consulting LLC