Happy Fall!
I hope you had a wonderful Summer. While this season is typically one of the slower times in real estate, Summer 2025 was anything but quiet in the Rumson area market. Activity remained high and the driving force continues to be one thing, the lack of inventory.
While Monmouth County overall had a solid 3rd quarter, when you zoom in on Rumson, Fair Haven, Little Silver and Monmouth Beach, the picture is much more intense. These four towns saw an average 26% drop in new listings, and active inventory is down 29% year over year. That supply shortage is pushing everything else.
As you might expect, prices are up significantly as buyers compete for fewer options. The average sale price across these towns rose 30% year over year, driven mainly by the strong, high-end luxury Rumson market which was up a whopping 53%!
Even though the number of homes sold declined, the total sales volume went up 15%, driven by rising prices.
With so few homes available, buyers can't afford to wait for perfection, but that doesn't mean they'll overpay for outdated or overpriced homes. The listings that are priced right and move-in ready tend to go quickly, often with multiple offers. The rest tend to linger until they're brought back in line with buyer expectations.
It's Not Just About Price, It's Personal
In this highly charged environment, negotiations have become a much more nuanced process. It's not just about price points or comps, it's about timing, psychology and communication. Emotions run high on both sides of a deal, especially when so much is at stake and housing decisions are tied to major life changes.
I've learned over the years that being able to read the room, the tone of voice, the body language, and even the silence is often more important than anything in the contract.
Flexibility, clarity, and understanding go a long way in keeping deals on track. Every sale is a little different, and success often comes from knowing when to lean in and when to hold back. It's less about hard tactics and more about recognizing what matters most to the people involved.
What makes residential real estate different from most other types of negotiations is how personal it is. Buying or selling a home is rarely just a financial decision. It's about family, life transitions, memories and milestones. There is a lot on the line and that shows up in every conversation, offer and negotiation.
Click on the picture below for a more detailed look at the most recent sales.
