theconnectionsnj.com HOME & DESIGN PAGE 32 JOHN P. LAWSON CONSTRUCTION, LLC Building & Framing Specialists Residential & Commercial Complete Home Improvement Fully Insured Phone: 908.526.2846 Cell: 908.625.8650 Custom Homes • Framing • Windows Additions • Doors • Add-A-Levels Basements • Decks • Roofing • Siding Raritan, New Jersey HIC #13VH02613900 Laundry sorting becoming unbearable because all you find is single, unmatched socks? Where do they go? They go missing with every load of laundry! Relenting to feeling they’re “Gone with the Wash”? Are you giving in to “Sockholm Syndrome”? Do they fall into the “Dryer Dimension”? Maybe it’s “Sock Snatchers” or “The Great Sock Escape”? It’s the unsolvable problem that finally has a solution! Don’t let your singles go out to mingle anymore! We’ll rematch them all or you pay nothing! Check us out at www.socksleuthers.com for rates, dates and fate of your footwear. You won’t be sorry. SOCK SLEUTHERS And put these guys away in the drawer for good! he degree to which the scales tip between supply and demand is a powerful indicator of real estate market conditions. Supply is growing! Now that we are in the latter half of 2025, I can confirm that there are significantly more homes on the market than in 2024. Sources, including data from the Garden State Multiple Listing and Realtor.com, report an increase in the number of homes for sale- as much as a 25% increase in Somerset County. In recent years, the limited number of homes for sale was not enough to satisfy aspiring buyers. The competition created a steep rise in prices, as purchasers attempted to outbid each other for homes. With a greater number of homes available for sale, the market is starting to relax. House hunters have more options, and equally as importantly, a few more days to think about whether to make an offer. There has also been an increase in the “days on market”, or the length of time a home is listed for sale before an offer is accepted. Homes are staying on the market for a couple of weeks, rather than setting an immediate offer deadline within days of listing. It’s not a huge increase, but it creates a less pressured atmosphere for buyers. Rushing to make the highest offer or waiving inspections and/or appraisal may result in dissatisfaction and cancellation later in the process, which is a costly setback for everyone involved. I am in favor of a more balanced atmosphere for both buyers and sellers to negotiate, receive advice, and consider options carefully. Another important indicator of a cooling market is price reductions. I am starting to see some properties that were priced too aggressively reducing their asking prices if they don’t see an offer quickly. Homes that are priced competitively (relative to confirmed sales) are faring better, and there are still multiple bids for select properties. Importantly, the average and median sale prices in our area have not decreased. My point is that overpricing homes is not working well in the current environment. By looking at the inventory, days on market, and price corrections, it’s apparent to me that our local real estate market shows a correction toward a more balanced climate. This is positive. Activity and prices remain strong while the additional time for consideration has tempered the formerly frantic pace of sales. The balance will reward buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals who are detail-oriented and pay attention to the trends. Contact local expert Johanna Wiseman of RE/MAX Preferred Professionals, at 908-705-0652, or use the QR code in the advertisement near the front of this magazine. REAL ESTATE CORNER Moving Toward Balance By Johanna Wiseman days on mar T
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