NEW JERSEY — When much of the economy shut down because of COVID-19, the good
times rolled for many home sellers in New Jersey. But the state's strong housing market appears headed toward a decline, with several counties among the most vulnerable homebuying sectors in the nation, according to a new report from real estate data curator ATTOM.
In fact, the nation's three most vulnerable housing markets are in New Jersey, according to the report. Passaic, Essex and Atlantic counties top the rankings, in that order, based on factors such as home affordability, unemployment, local wages and the prevalence of foreclosures. Home prices climbed more than 15 percent in most of the country over the past year, with new highs reached in about half the nation, according to ATTOM. But interest rates on 30-year mortgages have climbed to 6 percent, worsening affordability for prospective homebuyers. Home sales have declined every month in 2022, and home-price appreciation continues to show signs of retreating rapidly, according to the report.
"The housing market has been one of the strongest components of the U.S. economy since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic," said Rick Sharga, ATTOM's executive vice president of market intelligence. "But Federal Reserve actions aimed at bringing inflation down from its 41-year high are having an immediate impact on home affordability, sales and pricing. Whether the Fed can execute a relatively soft landing, or inadvertently steers the economy into a recession, will determine the fate of the housing market over the next 12-18 months." The New York and Philadelphia metro areas, which include much of New Jersey, were among the nation's most vulnerable housing markets, according to ATTOM. That includes Bergen, Essex, Ocean, Passaic, Sussex, Union, Camden and Gloucester counties.
Here's what leaves much of New Jersey's housing market vulnerable, according to ATTOM's data: Costs Outpace Wages
Major homeownership costs — such as mortgage payments, property taxes and insurance — consumed high percentages of local wages in the nation's most vulnerable counties. ATTOM measured local wages against the expenses of median-priced, single-family homes in their respective areas for the first quarter of the year. Three New Jersey counties ranked worst in that regard:
San Joaquin County, California: 48.9 percent of average local wages needed for major homeownership costs
Bergen County: 48.3 percent
Solano County, California: 46.6 percent
Passaic County: 46.5 percent
Ocean County: 42.5 percent
Nationwide, the average was 26.3 percent of local wages. Foreclosures The state's moratorium on evictions and foreclosures ended Nov. 15, and the federal moratorium expired July 31. Nationwide, 1 in 1,795 homes faced a foreclosure action in the first quarter of 2022. In parts of New Jersey, foreclosures were much more common in that span. One in 402 Cumberland County properties faced potential foreclosure — the nation's highest rate. Meanwhile, Gloucester County ranked third nationally in that regard (1 in 484 homes), and Ocean County placed fourth (1 in 496). Where NJ Counties Rank Here's where each New Jersey county ranks nationally in terms of housing market vulnerability, according to the report:
Passaic County (first)
Essex County (second)
Atlantic County (third)
Sussex County (seventh)
Cumberland County (eighth)
Union County (10th)
Warren County (15th)
Bergen County (29th)
Gloucester County (34th)
Ocean County (35th)
Camden County (36th)
Hudson County (68th)
Middlesex County (69th)
Monmouth County (84th)
Hunterdon County (94th)
Burlington County (101st)
Mercer County (105th)
Morris County (130th)
Somerset County (145th)
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