June marks the halfway point of the year, making it a natural time to reflect on not only this month’s activity, but also the broader trends that have shaped the first half of 2026.
One of the reasons I continue to compare today’s market with both recent years and 2019 is that context matters. A single month can be informative, but it rarely tells the whole story. Viewed alongside the year-to-date trends, June’s data suggests a market that is settling into a more balanced pace after last year’s unusually competitive market, while remaining considerably stronger than pre-pandemic conditions.
It is also worth noting that a meaningful number of Princeton transactions continue to occur outside of BrightMLS, particularly within the luxury market. Because these off-market sales are not reflected in the published data, the statistics below provide a snapshot of market activity, but they do not represent every transaction taking place.
With that context in mind, June brought 41 new listings to the Princeton market, a 9% decrease compared with June 2025. Buyer activity remained healthy, with 33 properties going under contract, a 32% increase over the same month last year. There were 36 closed sales, up slightly from last year’s 34.
The median sale price was $1,499,000, a modest 5% decline from June 2025, while the average sale price was $1,714,023, down 9%. Properties spent an average of 37 days on the market, compared with 19 days one year ago, although the median marketing time remained just 12 days. On average, homes sold for 100.8% of their original list price.
June’s activity suggests a market that is becoming more balanced, with buyers continuing to absorb available inventory.
One relationship that stood out to me this month was how closely new listings and pending sales tracked one another. While 41 homes came to market, 33 went under contract. Although those figures don’t always represent the same properties, they do reinforce that buyers continue to absorb a significant portion of the available inventory, even as homes take a bit longer to sell. Roughly 80% of new listings this month were matched by a pending sale, compared with closer to 56% a year ago.
When viewed against recent years, June’s average of 37 days on market is well above last year’s unusually fast pace, yet it remains substantially below the 73-day average recorded in June 2019. More importantly, the median days on market remained just 12 days, unchanged from June 2025, reinforcing the idea that well-priced and thoughtfully presented homes continue to sell relatively quickly, even as some properties require more time to find the right buyer.
Pricing tells a similar story. Both the median and average sale price moderated from last year’s extraordinarily strong market, but they remain substantially above both 2019 and 2024 levels. The median sale price declined 5% year over year, while the average sale price appears to have been influenced by the mix of homes that closed during the month. Off-market sales continue to influence the upper end of the market. Because those transactions are not reflected in BrightMLS, the published averages likely understate portions of upper-end activity.
The distribution of sales by price point reinforces that story. The $1 million to $2 million segment continues to represent the core of the Princeton market, accounting for half of all June sales. At the same time, the luxury market has expanded meaningfully since 2019. June 2019 recorded no sales above $3 million, while June 2026 included three. Sales between $2 million and $3 million have also grown considerably compared with pre-pandemic levels.
Taken together, these trends suggest buyer demand remains healthy across a broader range of price points rather than indicating a fundamentally weaker market. Buyers remain active, even as they become increasingly selective.
Year-to-Date Trends
Looking beyond a single month provides additional perspective. Through the first six months of 2026:
* New listings declined from 202 to 182 compared with the same period last year.
* Under contract activity declined from 149 to 132.
* Closed sales declined from 120 to 106.
Viewed together, these figures tell a relatively consistent story. Market activity has moderated compared with last year’s extraordinary pace, but the declines remain remarkably proportional. New listings are down about 10%, under contract activity is down about 11%, and closed sales are down about 12%, suggesting that limited inventory continues to play a larger role than a broad pullback in buyer demand.
One comparison that stands out to me is with 2019. Through the first half of the year, Princeton has had 119 fewer new listings than during the same period before the pandemic. Yet under contract activity and closed sales have declined far less. To me, that’s one of the clearest signs of how much the Princeton market has evolved. Even with substantially fewer homes coming to market than before the pandemic, buyers continue to absorb a significant share of the available inventory.
Year-to-date pricing tells a similar story. The average sale price stands at $1,541,517 and the median sale price at $1,285,000. Both figures are lower than 2025’s elevated pricing, yet both remain well above 2019 and 2024.
Part of the year-over-year difference may reflect the mix of homes sold. It is also worth remembering that some luxury sales continue to occur off market. Because those transactions are not reflected in BrightMLS, the published pricing data may not fully capture activity at the upper end of the market.
The distribution of sales by price point provides additional context. The $1 million to $2 million segment remains the largest component of the market, while activity above $3 million continues to exceed pre-pandemic levels, despite fewer reported BrightMLS sales than last year.
What This Means
For Buyers
The increase in average days on market provides buyers with slightly more time to evaluate opportunities than they had a year ago. In some cases, there is also greater room for negotiation, particularly on homes that have been on the market longer or were initially priced too aggressively.
That said, well-priced and thoughtfully presented homes are still generating strong interest, and multiple-offer situations remain common for properties that align with buyer expectations.
For Sellers
Today’s market continues to reward preparation. Buyers remain active, but they are also increasingly discerning. Thoughtful pricing, careful presentation, and strategic marketing are more important than ever in generating early interest and achieving the strongest possible outcome.
Looking Ahead
As we move into the second half of the year, the Princeton market appears to be settling into a more sustainable pace. Buyers continue to compete for well-priced, thoughtfully presented homes, while sellers are adjusting to a market that offers more balance than it did over the past several years.
In a market like this, my role is to help clients look beyond the headlines and understand what the data is actually telling us.
Princeton Area Overview
The broader Princeton-area market continues to demonstrate varying dynamics across towns and price points. Hopewell Township leads the region in units sold through the first half of the year, followed by Lawrence and West Windsor. Princeton continues to command the highest average and median sale prices in the region.
Final Thought
One of the reasons I enjoy publishing these monthly updates is that real estate markets are rarely defined by a single statistic. A headline can suggest one story, while a broader collection of data often tells another.
June’s data reflects a market that is becoming more balanced while buyer demand and long-term fundamentals remain strong. Inventory remains constrained, buyers remain engaged, and Princeton continues to distinguish itself as one of the region’s most resilient housing markets.
As always, if you are thinking about buying, selling, or would simply like to better understand the Princeton area real estate market, please feel free to call (917-386-5880), text, or email me. I am always happy to be a resource!
Sylmarie Trowbridge | Princeton Luxury Real Estate | Callaway Henderson Sotheby's 