If you've been wondering why there's so little to buy in Princeton, West Windsor, or Montgomery Township right now, here's the clearest explanation yet.

New Jersey housing inventory is still 31% below pre-pandemic levels, and the primary reason is the rate lock-in effect. Homeowners who locked in mortgages below 4% in 2020 and 2021 are doing the math, and it doesn't pencil out. Moving into a comparable home today at 6%+ rates can mean a monthly payment difference exceeding $2,000. That's not a small adjustment. That's a meaningful hit to the household budget, and most people are choosing to stay put rather than absorb it.

Analysts expect this inventory deficit to persist through at least mid-2026. So if you're a buyer waiting for more options to appear, you may be waiting longer than you'd like. And if you're a current homeowner on the fence, understanding exactly what that payment differential means for your specific situation is the first step before any decision. We break this kind of local market math down regularly at TheWuTeam.com.

Share your thoughts below

最近帮朋友看房，他问了我一个问题：「明明利率这么高，为什么好学区的房子还是这么少、还是要抢？」

我跟他算了一笔账👇

很多普林斯顿、西温莎的业主，当年贷款利率锁在3%多。现在市场利率超过6%，换一套差不多的房子，月供直接涨$2000以上。

一年就是多付$24,000。

换你，你换吗？大多数人的答案是：不换。

所以数据显示，新泽西现在的房源库存还比疫情前低31%，而且预计至少到2026年中都不会明显好转。

对我们这些在找房的人来说，现实就是：好房子出来就要快，犹豫的代价很高。

不是说要冲动，而是要提前做好功课，看清楚自己的预算和目标，机会来了才能接住。

有同样感受的朋友欢迎聊聊 🙋