Published October 11, 2026 in Market Update

One part of Primary buy box (3) is moving much faster than the other

By LORI DONNELLY

Real estate, Primary buy box (3)

Two ZIPs. Same market. Six days apart. That is the story in Primary buy box (3) right now.

ZIP 07722 had a median of 16 days on market, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator. That is fast. Nearly 44.4% of homes there went under contract within two weeks of listing.

ZIP 07727 took 22 days. Still not slow. But six days longer matters when you are writing an offer or setting a price.

What the prices say

In ZIP 07722, the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted a median sale price of $1,825,000. That is up 25.9% from the same three months in 2025. Homes there sold at 102.7% of list price on average.

In ZIP 07727, the median came in at $770,000, down 17.2% from a year ago. Still, homes sold at 100.7% of list price. And 46.4% sold above list, up 19.7 points from last year.

So prices moved in opposite directions. But both ZIPs are still clearing above asking. That is worth knowing.

The bigger picture: price cuts are rising nationally

Realtor.com reported that 20.8% of listings nationally had price cuts in September. That is the highest share since October 2022.

Realtor.com also noted mortgage rates climbed above 7% for the first time since January 2025. Freddie Mac put the 30-year fixed rate at 7.40% as of October 8, 2026.

That national pressure makes local speed more important. In Primary buy box (3), both ZIPs are still selling above list. That is not the national story right now.

Sales volume jumped across both ZIPs

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 56 homes sold across both ZIPs. That is up 33.3% from the same period in 2025. Inventory fell 11.6% at the same time.

More buyers, fewer homes. That is why both ZIPs are still selling above list even as national conditions soften.

What this means if you are selling

In ZIP 07722, 53.6% of homes sold above list price. If you price right, competition is still there.

In ZIP 07727, the median price dropped 17.2% year over year. A sharp price matters more there. Nationally, Realtor.com says one in five listings is already cutting. Pricing carefully from the start is smarter than chasing the market down.

What this means if you are buying

In ZIP 07722, 44.4% of homes went under contract within two weeks. Clean terms and a quick decision help.

In ZIP 07727, you have a few more days. But 46.4% still sold above list, up 19.7 points from last year. Do not assume you have room to wait.