


The frenzy of 2021–2022 has certainly evolved, but that does not mean the market is weak. As we enter 2026, data pulled directly from the MLS shows:
Home prices remain strong across most segments
Inventory is still limited
Buyer demand continues to outweigh supply
Days on market remain relatively low
Mortgage rates are trending down
This combination continues to favor sellers—though strategy matters more than ever.
Despite higher interest rates over the past two years, Bergen County home prices have not dropped. In fact, sold home prices are up across most towns.
We are also seeing:
Growth in condos and townhomes
A resilient luxury market
Selective price reductions on homes that are overpriced or poorly marketed
The key distinction is this: well-priced, well-marketed homes are still selling quickly and at strong prices.
One of the clearest indicators of market strength is days on market:
Most homes are selling in under 40 days
Well-priced, well-prepared homes often sell in under 30 days
Overpriced homes are sitting 60+ days and chasing the market down
For sellers, speed creates competition—and competition drives price.
For buyers, a home sitting longer than 60 days often signals a pricing or value misalignment, creating negotiation opportunities.
Inventory remains the single biggest factor keeping the Bergen County housing market strong.
We are currently sitting at approximately 2.5 months of housing supply, meaning:
If no new homes came on the market, Bergen County would run out of inventory in about two and a half months.
This is not a balanced market. It’s a supply-constrained market that continues to support pricing—especially in towns closest to New York City and those with the easiest commutes.
Despite elevated interest rates in 2024 and early 2025, prices have held because:
There are more buyers than sellers
Desirable towns remain in extremely short supply
Demand is strongest closest to NYC
As we head into January 2026, mortgage rates are now at their lowest levels in over a year, bringing even more buyers back into the market.
Mortgage rates peaked above 7% in 2023–2024, which slowed activity and caused hesitation. As rates improved:
Buyer confidence returned
Buying power increased
Competition intensified
A 1% drop in interest rates can equal roughly 10% more buying power. This is why homes are now selling at 103–104% of asking price when priced correctly.
Even in a seller-favored market, strategy is critical. Simply putting a sign in the yard and taking poor-quality photos can cost sellers real money.
The biggest mistake sellers make is leaving money on the table by not investing in:
Proper pricing
Strong presentation
A clear marketing strategy
Programs like the Value Up Method help sellers maximize their home’s value—even in a strong market—by focusing on preparation, positioning, and execution.
Waiting until spring often means:
More buyers entering the market
More competition
Stronger cash offers
More waived contingencies
Buyers who wait without a strategy often find themselves losing bidding wars. Programs that help buyers compete like cash buyers—even if they need to sell a home first—can be game changers in this environment.
This is no longer a guessing market—it’s a thinking market.
The buyers and sellers who achieve the best outcomes will not be the fastest or the loudest. They will be:
The most informed
The best prepared
The most strategic
Local expertise, data-driven pricing, and professional guidance make the difference.
Every situation is unique. Whether you’re buying, selling, or just planning ahead, understanding your specific town and price point is essential.
📞 Call or text: 201-292-0011
📅 One-on-one strategy sessions available here.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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!

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!


82 N. Summit Street, Tenafly NJ 07670
Stacy Esser Consulting LLC
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