Where to Find Reliable NJ Housing Market Data
The short answer: For New Jersey home sales, the most direct public source is NJ REALTORS®' monthly state and county reports. They're compiled from the state's multiple listing services, and the previous month's reports are posted by the 11th (NJ REALTORS®). For longer-term prices, housing characteristics and new construction, use government sources: the FHFA House Price Index, the Census Bureau's American Community Survey and Building Permits Survey, and the NJ Department of Community Affairs' construction data.
Each source measures something different and updates on its own schedule. This guide explains what each one tells you, so you quote the right number, with its date, and don't accidentally mix up two different measures.
Which sources cover the NJ housing market?
| Source | What it measures | Geography | How often |
|---|---|---|---|
| NJ REALTORS® Monthly Housing Market Statistics | MLS-reported listings and closed sales: new listings, closed sales, days on market, median sales price, percent of list price received, inventory, months supply | State and county (public); municipality (REALTOR®-only login) | Monthly, plus quarterly reports |
| FHFA House Price Index | Changes in single-family home values, using repeat sales and refinancings | National down to state, metro, county, ZIP and census tract | Monthly and quarterly releases |
| Census American Community Survey (ACS) | Survey data on people and housing (more than 40 topics) | Areas of 65,000+ (1-year); all areas (5-year) | Released annually |
| Census Building Permits Survey | New privately owned residential units authorized by permits | National, state, metro, county, permit-issuing place | Monthly, year-to-date, annual |
| NJ DCA Construction Reporter | Building permits, demolitions and certificates of occupancy reported by local construction officials | Every county and municipality | Reported monthly |
| Freddie Mac PMMS | Average mortgage rates | National only | Weekly (Thursdays) |
What do the NJ REALTORS® monthly reports show?
NJ REALTORS® says it partners with the state's MLSs to compile the data, through 10K Research & Marketing (NJ REALTORS®). The public site has state and county reports. Municipality reports require a REALTOR® login, and the association says "only REALTORS® can provide the monthly municipality housing market reports to buyers and sellers."
A county report breaks out single-family, townhouse-condo and adult community sales. It compares the month and the year-to-date with the year before (sample county report, September 2026). Read the footnotes:
- Median sales price and percent of list price received are starred: the figure "does not account for sale concessions and/or downpayment assistance."
- Percent changes "can sometimes look extreme due to small sample size."
- The report notes the date the data was current as of. State figures carry a stated margin of error.
So in a small county or a thin category like adult communities, one or two sales can swing the percentages a lot. Look at the raw counts before you repeat a percentage.
How is the FHFA House Price Index different from a median sale price?
A median price is just the middle sale of whatever sold that month. If more expensive homes happened to sell, the median goes up even if no home gained value. The FHFA HPI is a "weighted, repeat-sales index." It tracks price changes on the same properties over time, using mortgage transactions on single-family homes whose loans were bought or securitized by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (FHFA).
That makes the HPI better for "how much have values changed?" and the MLS median better for "what are homes selling for right now?" FHFA posts its upcoming release dates on the same page.
When should you use Census ACS data?
Use the ACS for the people and housing behind a market rather than for recent sales. The Census Bureau describes it as collecting "detailed social, economic, housing, and demographic information" across "more than 40 topics," with new data released annually (Census ACS).
Choose the right version (Census guidance on 1-year vs. 5-year estimates):
- 1-year estimates: the most current, but only for areas with populations of 65,000 or more, and less reliable.
- 5-year estimates: 60 months of data for all areas, including small NJ towns. These are the most reliable but the least current.
Always label which one you used, for example "2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimate."
Where do you find new construction numbers?
Two places:
- Census Building Permits Survey: housing units authorized by building permits, available monthly and annually down to the permit-issuing place (Census BPS).
- NJ DCA Construction Reporter: the state's own data. Local construction officials report building permits and certificates of occupancy every month. DCA calls construction data "one of the few indicators available from every town every month." DCA says it's changing the Construction Reporter program and points users to its Development Trends Viewer for now (NJ DCA).
Permits show construction starting. Certificates of occupancy show buildings finished and ready to live in.
What about mortgage rates?
Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) is released weekly on Thursdays. It's based on rates from loan applications that lenders submit to Freddie Mac (Freddie Mac PMMS). It's a national average, so don't present it as a New Jersey rate.
How should agents use and share market data?
- Always name the source and the date. "Median sales price, Camden County, September 2026, NJ REALTORS®" is useful. "Prices are up 10%" isn't.
- Don't mix measures. An HPI percentage and an MLS median change aren't the same thing.
- Remember a CMA isn't an appraisal. A written CMA must say so (N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.1). See CMA vs. appraisal.
- Know where MLS data comes from. Our guide to how MLSs work in New Jersey explains the systems behind these reports, and which REALTOR® board covers your county helps you find local contacts.
Reading market data is one of the skills you build as a new agent. If you're still deciding whether to get licensed, Business Elementary's 75-hour pre-licensing course is the first step.
Sources
- NJ REALTORS®, Monthly Housing Market Statistics: https://www.njrealtor.com/research/10k/
- NJ REALTORS® / 10K Research, sample Local Market Update (Cape May County, September 2026): https://njar-public.stats.10kresearch.com/docs/lmu/x/CapeMayCounty?src=page
- FHFA, House Price Index: https://www.fhfa.gov/data/hpi
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs ; 1-year vs. 5-year guidance: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/guidance/estimates.html
- U.S. Census Bureau, Building Permits Survey: https://www.census.gov/construction/bps/
- NJ Department of Community Affairs, Construction Reporter: https://www.nj.gov/dca/codes/reporter/
- Freddie Mac, Primary Mortgage Market Survey: https://www.freddiemac.com/pmms
- N.J.A.C. 11:5-6.1 (via Cornell LII): https://www.law.cornell.edu/regulations/new-jersey/N-J-A-C-11-5-6-1
Last reviewed: October 28, 2026
Related guides:
- Want to explain what a rate change means for a buyer? How Mortgage Rates Affect NJ Buyers walks through the payment math, rate vs. APR and rate locks.
- Buyers asking about taxes? How NJ Property Taxes Work explains assessments, tax rates and where to find the official numbers.
- Found the "months supply" line in a report? Months of Supply: How to Tell a Buyer's Market From a Seller's Market explains how it's calculated and how to read it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get free NJ county home sales data?
NJ REALTORS® publishes public state and county monthly reports. Previous-month reports are posted by the 11th of the month (NJ REALTORS®).
Can anyone get town-level NJ market reports?
NJ REALTORS® municipality reports require a REALTOR® login. The association says only REALTORS® can provide them to buyers and sellers (NJ REALTORS®).
What's the most reliable Census data for a small NJ town?
ACS 5-year estimates. They cover all areas and are the most reliable ACS product, though the least current (Census Bureau).
Does the FHFA index use all home sales?
No. It's a repeat-sales index built mainly from mortgage transactions on single-family homes with Fannie Mae- or Freddie Mac-backed loans (FHFA).
Is the Freddie Mac mortgage rate a New Jersey rate?
No. PMMS reports U.S. weekly averages (Freddie Mac).