December consistently brings the lowest buyer demand of the year, as most people shift into holiday mode and pause their search. Even though very few new listings typically hit the market this month, history shows that a few still come on each week, which can create quiet opportunities for buyers who stay tuned in.

From an aging-inventory standpoint, the current market also tells an important story: 25 of the 87 active properties on LBI have been on the market for over 100 days. Homes that sit this long are often overpriced, and in many cases seller expectations begin to soften. These listings are easy to overlook, but they can present real opportunities, especially if the seller is becoming more flexible and the home hasn’t attracted meaningful interest.

With inventory entering winter at unprecedented lows, buyers who remain active, informed, and thoughtful in their approach will be in the strongest position to secure a property ahead of the 2026 summer season. For those targeting the sub-$2M range, staying engaged is especially critical. Of the 112 closings we saw this Fall, 58 were under $2 million — more than half the market.

When a well-priced home hit this range, it rarely made it past the first weekend of showings, making speed and preparedness essential heading into the new year as we expect this trend to continue.

With buyers' attention shifting toward the holidays, December is historically the lowest-inventory month of the year for new listings — and for that reason, we generally don’t recommend listing at this time. If you’re considering selling, it usually makes sense to wait until the new year, when buyer activity begins to increase.

That said, if you are looking to sell your home as soon as possible, there is still enough demand in today’s market to possibly achieve fair market value this month. Even with the holiday slowdown, inventory remains extremely limited, and motivated buyers continue to engage when well-positioned homes become available.

And if you’re thinking about listing in early 2026, December is an excellent month to get your ducks in a row — power wash, declutter, handle small repairs, tidy up storage areas, and prepare the home for photos and showings. It’s also the ideal time to finalize a listing plan, pricing strategy, and timeline so you’re ready to launch strong once the market reactivates after the new year.

The Spring 2026 market will be one to watch closely. Since COVID, each Spring has brought lower-than-normal new listing activity, keeping supply tight and favoring sellers. But with this Fall coming in noticeably soft, it remains to be seen whether we’ll finally see an increase in listings this Spring — or if the island continues following the pattern of the past few years.