South Jersey Shore Real Estate Market Saw Inventory Decline in June

July 24, 2018

Market Minute Logo 2017 smallThe South Jersey Shore real estate market saw inventory continue to decline in June, according to the Long & Foster Market Minute reports. The South Jersey Shore region includes Atlantic and Cape May counties.

South Jersey Shore Market Minute Chart June 2018

 

Active inventory fell by 10 percent in Cape May County last month, and it declined by 20 percent in Atlantic County. The number of homes sold also fell throughout the region, decreasing by 11 percent in Atlantic County and by 16 percent in Cape May County.

Median sale prices in the region varied in June when compared to the previous year. In Atlantic County, the median sale price rose by 6 percent, while it fell by just 1 percent in Cape May County. Days on market averages from the area ranged from 70 days to 147 days.

Gary Scott, president of Long & Foster Real Estate, said when it comes to the real estate market as a whole, consumers can expect the second half of this year to look much like the first half. Low inventory of homes will continue to make buying a challenge. However, he said he also sees opportunity on the horizon.

“When you think about household formations over the next three to five years, the demographics are our friend, not our foe,” Scott said. “The Boomers who own homes are going to need to sell their houses as they age, and the Millennials are going to start buying at a greater pace as they get married and start families. Millennials aren’t in the same hurry as previous generations to start a family and build wealth.”

In the meantime, the best thing that people navigating the current market can do is work with a real estate professional. Scott said consumers’ access to information and data, which can often be chaotic and incorrect, has heightened the need for professional advisors with total market knowledge.

“There are many real estate agents that are sales people who aren’t committed, aren’t professionally trained and aren’t prepared,” Scott said. “They’re not real estate professionals, who are trusted advisors that build solid relationships. It’s not hard to be a real estate agent, but it’s really hard to be a good one.”

The Long & Foster Market Minute is an overview of market statistics based on residential real estate transactions for more than 500 local areas and neighborhoods and over 100 counties in eight states. The easy-to-read, easy-to-share reports include information about each area’s units sold, active inventory, median sale prices, list to sold price ratio, days on market and more.

Information included in this report is based on data supplied by South Jersey Shore and Cape May County multiple listing services and their member associations of Realtors, which are not responsible for its accuracy. The reports include residential real estate transactions within specific geographic regions, not just Long & Foster sales, and they do not reflect all activity in the marketplace. Information contained in this report is deemed reliable but not guaranteed, should be independently verified, and does not constitute an opinion of SJS, CMC or Long & Foster Real Estate.