Reflecting on 2025 and What 2026 brings for the Bergen County, NJ Real Estate Market
As February begins, it’s a natural moment to step back and assess how Bergen County’s single-family home market performed in 2025—and what buyers and sellers in Northern New Jersey can realistically expect as 2026 unfolds.
Rather than dramatic shifts, 2025 was a year of refinement. The market remained competitive, but it matured. Buyers became more deliberate, pricing accuracy mattered more than ever, and results increasingly favored those guided by strong local strategy. The Bergen County, NJ data tells that story clearly .
What Did 2025 Show Us?
Inventory in Bergen County, NJ stayed historically tight throughout 2025. By year-end, months of supply for single-family homes declined to 1.4 months, reinforcing seller leverage even as buyers became more analytical, especially in commuter towns like Ridgewood, NJ and Glen Rock, NJ.
New listings were essentially flat year over year, while closed sales declined modestly. This wasn’t a lack-of-demand market—it was a selective one. Well-priced, well-presented homes continued to sell efficiently. Homes that missed on pricing or condition took longer to attract serious buyers.
That shift was reflected in days on market, which increased slightly to an average of 33 days year to date—still very fast historically, but a clear signal that buyers were no longer rushing decisions .
Pricing Became the Defining Factor
Despite a slight slowdown in transaction volume, meaning how many homes changed hands in Bergen County, NJ, pricing strength remained one of the most notable features of 2025. The median single-family sale price in Bergen County rose to $840,000, nearly a 10% year-over-year increase.
Homes continued to sell close to asking price, averaging 103.7% of list price, but that figure softened slightly from the prior year. The market became less forgiving of aspirational pricing and far more responsive to an accurate pricing strategy from the start.
This was where an experienced real estate agent made the difference. Sellers who relied on guidance for precise valuation and strategic positioning consistently outperformed those who “tested” the market.
Why Experience Mattered More Than Ever
In a more disciplined market, results increasingly reflected expertise rather than momentum. That was especially evident in the performance of Kelly O’Brien and Till Horkenbach, whose 2025 production stood out.
In 2025, Kelly and Till closed over $40 million in real estate transactions, ranking them among the top four agents at Keller Williams Village Square Realty in Ridgewood, NJ. Their performance also earned them on the state level the New Jersey Realtors® Circle of Excellence Sales Award® at the Gold level, one of the state’s highest distinctions based solely on verified annual production.
What made that achievement particularly meaningful was how it was earned. In a year when Bergen County buyers were more value-driven and sellers had less margin for error, Kelly and Till’s listings averaged 113% of list price, compared to the countywide norm just above 100%. That spread reflects accurate pricing, disciplined marketing, and skilled negotiation—factors that mattered more in 2025 than in the frenzy years prior.
Their results mirrored what the broader data shows: success last year required preparation, local insight, and a clear understanding of buyer behavior at the neighborhood level.
What This Signals for 2026 in Bergen County, NJ
Looking ahead, 2026 is expected to build on the patterns established in 2025. Inventory is likely to remain constrained, keeping upward pressure on prices, even as buyers continue to act thoughtfully rather than reactively.
For sellers, the lesson is clear: pricing strategically from day one and presenting a home that will appeal to the largest share of buyers will be essential. For buyers, offer strategy and following expert guidance will be key, with the strongest opportunities coming from understanding town-by-town dynamics rather than relying on countywide averages.
In this environment, working with professionals like Kelly and Till who understand both the numbers and how to interpret them locally will continue to give their sellers and buyers a competitive advantage.
The Bottom Line
2025 reaffirmed Bergen County’s resilience as one of New Jersey’s most desirable single-family home markets. Even as conditions changed, prices remained strong, inventory stayed tight, and well-positioned homes continued to sell on favorable terms.
With experienced professionals like Kelly O’Brien and Till Horkenbach guiding buyers and sellers, navigating what 2026 brings becomes less about guessing the market—and more about understanding it. Sellers that take Kelly and Till’s guidance will continue to see multiple offers above the list price, and buyers that listen to Kelly and Till’s advice will NOT have to make numerous offers to secure a home.
Success in this market doesn’t come from timing alone. It comes from experience, preparation, and knowing what the data is really saying. Who you work with matters!
