Published October 11, 2026 in Market Update

North Shore listings fell even as more homes sat on the market longer

By Chris DiToro

Real estate, North Shore

The numbers for the three months ending August 31, 2026 tell a story that cuts against what you might expect. The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 456 homes for sale across the North Shore, down 12.3% from the same period a year ago. At the same time, Realtor.com reported Northeast inventory rose 11.6% over the same stretch. The North Shore moved in the opposite direction from the region around it.

For homeowners, fewer listings means less competition on your street. For buyers, it means choice stayed tight even as some homes took longer to find a buyer.

New listings fell too

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 456 new listings across the North Shore in those three months, down 4.4% from a year before. Fewer owners put homes up. That kept the pool small even as some of those homes lingered.

Mortgage rates added pressure on both sides. CNBC reported the average contract rate on a 30-year fixed mortgage reached 7.49% as of the week ending October 7, 2026. Realtor.com reported rates topped 7% in September 2026. Higher rates make monthly payments harder, which slows decisions for buyers and keeps some owners from trading up.

Not every ZIP code moved the same way

This is where it gets interesting. The North Shore is not one uniform market. Each ZIP code has its own story, and the differences are real.

Where homes moved fastest

The Real Estate Data Aggregator showed the biggest contrast in days on market. ZIP 10302 had a median of just 26 days, 19 days shorter than a year ago. Nearly half of homes there, 45.8%, sold above list price. ZIP 10301 sat at the other end, with a median of 70 days, 14 days longer than last year.

Prices mostly rose, with one exception

The Real Estate Data Aggregator showed price gains in most ZIPs. ZIP 10303 led with a median sale price of $617,500, up 20.3% from a year ago. ZIP 10310 reached $767,000, up 20.8%. ZIP 10301 came in at $740,000, up 13.8%. ZIP 10302 rose 7.9% to $680,000. ZIP 10304 was nearly flat, up just 0.1% to $737,500. ZIP 10305 dipped, with a median of $720,000, down 4% from a year ago. That is the one honest exception in an otherwise upward picture.

Quick contracts became rare

One shift stands out across every ZIP. The share of homes going under contract within two weeks of listing fell sharply almost everywhere. The Real Estate Data Aggregator showed ZIP 10305 had the highest rate, at 13.5%, but that was down 21.2 points from a year ago. ZIP 10302 was at 9.5%, down 19.5 points. ZIP 10303 came in at 6.7%, down 19.8 points. ZIP 10301 was at 6.2%, down 18.2 points. ZIP 10304 was at 6.3%, down 9.2 points. ZIP 10310 was at 3.5%, down 18.1 points. Buyers are taking more time. That is not a collapse, but it is a real change from a year ago.

The wider picture

The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported U.S. house prices rose 2.6% from July 2025 to July 2026, and 0.3% from June to July on a seasonally adjusted basis. The North Shore's price gains in most ZIPs outpaced that national figure. Realtor.com reported the Northeast median list price fell 3.8% year over year in September 2026. The North Shore held up better than the broader region on price, even as sales volume slipped.

On jobs, Redfin reported 29,000 jobs created nationally in September 2026, with a three-month moving average of 51,000 and an unemployment rate of 4.2%. A slower job market nationally can soften buyer confidence. It is worth watching.

These numbers cover the whole North Shore, but your block may tell a different story. A few homes on one street can shift the picture for an entire ZIP code. If you want to know what the numbers say about your specific address, I am happy to take a look.