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The Morris County housing market surged forward in the third quarter of 2019, with prices rising sharply even while limited inventory stifled sales growth. Prices experienced their biggest quarterly jump in over two years, rising almost 4% on average and 5% at the median compared to the third quarter of last year. For the rolling year, prices were up more modestly, reflecting how pricing has been a little more lackluster through most of 2019. Meanwhile, though, sales are down, falling 1% for the quarter and now down 5% for the rolling year, mostly because relatively low levels of inventory are stifling sales activity. But inventory went up almost 20% in the quarter, the largest increase in about 10 years, because sellers are starting to see prices go up and are getting tempted into the market. Going forward, we believe that if inventory continues to rise to meet buyer demand, the market is poised for both sales and price growth through the winter and into 2020. The market fundamentals are strong: the economy is solid, interest rates are back down to historic lows, and home values are still below their heights from the last seller’s market.
