This winter was especially disabling for the New Jersey real estate market. With multiple snowstorms and sub-normal temperatures, buyers and sellers appeared sequestered until the weather broke.
It was one of the coldest winters in decades for Monmouth and Ocean counties, and that kind of weather has ripple effects on homes, buyers, and title transactions across the region.
How Cold Was It in Monmouth County?
Meteorological winter (December through February) in Monmouth County and the surrounding coastal region ran dramatically colder than the 1991–2020 normal.
• December 2025 was one of the coldest Decembers since 2010, averaging about 4.5°F below normal, with statewide nighttime lows coming in roughly 5.0°F below average.
• January 2026 ran about 3.7°F colder than normal statewide, with the coastal division (including Monmouth) around 3.5°F below normal.
• February 2026 again averaged about 4.5°F below normal along the coast, making it the coldest February since 2015.
• Taken together, winter 2025–2026 is estimated to have finished roughly 4°F below normal overall, the coldest in more than 20 years.
On top of the cold, there was the snow – and lots of it! The central New Jersey region, including Monmouth County, saw about 8.5 inches of snow in December alone, contributing to the snowiest winter in more than a decade. Plus, there was that arctic outbreak late in January that brought a stretch of sustained, bitter air, reinforcing the perception of an “old-fashioned” winter.
What Happened in Ocean County?
Ocean County was much the same as Monmouth County: harsh, persistent winds, and below-average temperatures.
• December 2025 came in roughly 4.5–5.0°F below the long-term normal along the coast.
• January 2026 averaged 3.7°F below normal statewide, making it the coldest January since 2014 and the fifth coldest of the 21st century.
• Early February 2026 was especially harsh, with the first 10 days running close to 13°F below normal in some coastal areas and the month on track to be the coldest February since 2015.
The air coming from the Atlantic worked to lock-in the chill, leaving shore communities in Monmouth and Ocean counties feeling consistently colder than recent winters.
Why This Matters for Homeowners and Buyers
This kind of severe winter showed up in the number of properties on the market, fewer buyers, and fewer sellers willing to jump into the market before the official start of spring.
• The extended cold and increased snowfall lowered demand and interest.
• Seasonal listing patterns reflected a sharp, prolonged delay in many properties coming to the market. Just look at Middlesex County’s new listings – going from 407 in March 2025 to 703 in 2026, a 73% surge.
Now real estate agencies, agents, loan officers, and attorneys may be stretched to handle this unusual volume. But that is what makes Counsellors Title a cut above – for nearly 30 years our teams have withstood every imaginable context and given our customers and their clients that added edge.
Counsellors makes sure that each deal gets the necessary attention without cutting corners and avoiding the glitches that seem to arise in this kind of market environment.