Long Beach Island Real Estate Market Update: January vs February 2026
February brought some challenging conditions to Long Beach Island. Between multiple snowstorms, extremely cold temperatures, and the general risks that winter weather can pose to coastal homes, activity across the island was somewhat constrained. Travel to the island was limited at times, and many buyers chose to delay showings until conditions improved.
Even with those challenges, the market continued to move, and the data offers some interesting insight into how LBI performed during one of the harshest winter stretches of the season (and past 30 years).
Total Sales
January 2026: 29 properties sold
February 2026: 17 properties sold
Sales declined in February, which is not entirely surprising given the weather conditions throughout the month. With fewer buyers traveling to the island and some homes temporarily harder/unable to show, transaction volume slowed.
Average and Median Sale Price
January 2026 Average: $2,367,994
February 2026 Average: $1,914,347
January 2026 Median: $2,300,000
February 2026 Median: $1,805,000
Both the average and median sale prices declined in February. This likely reflects the smaller number of transactions during the month and a different mix of homes closing compared to January. When sales volume is lower, pricing metrics can shift more dramatically depending on the types of homes that happen to close. This is also supported by the stronger month-over-month Sales-to-list-price ratio.
New Listings
January 2026: 28 new listings
February 2026: 44 new listings
New listings increased significantly in February. As we begin moving toward the spring market, more sellers are preparing their homes for sale, which often leads to a bump in new inventory during late winter.
Sales to List Price Ratio
January 2026: 96.3%
February 2026: 97%
The sale to list price ratio increased slightly in February, showing that buyers were still willing to pay close to asking price when they found the right property. With fewer homes closing and limited inventory available, competitively priced properties continued to attract strong interest.
Median Cumulative Days on Market (CDOM)
January 2026: 44 days
February 2026: 20 days
Homes sold much faster in February compared to January. While the weather reduced the number of transactions overall, it appears that the buyers who were actively searching during the month were serious and ready to move quickly when the right property became available.
Total Inventory
January 2026: 84 active properties
February 2026: 101 active properties
Inventory increased as more listings came onto the market. Even with this increase, overall supply remains tight compared to historically normal levels for Long Beach Island.
Market Insights
February’s data reflects a market that was influenced heavily by weather but still showed underlying strength. Sales slowed, which was expected given the conditions, but homes that did come to market continued to attract serious buyers who closed quickly. The jump in new listings suggests that more sellers are preparing for the spring market, which should bring increased activity in the coming months, while also giving buyers more options to pick from.
What This Means for Buyers and Sellers
For sellers, February’s increase in new listings signals the beginning of the seasonal shift toward the spring market. Homes that are priced correctly and presented well will likely benefit from renewed buyer activity as weather improves and more people begin visiting the island again.
For buyers, the increase in inventory provides a few more options compared to earlier in the winter. However, with inventory still relatively limited and demand remaining strong on Long Beach Island, well priced homes may continue to attract competition as we move closer to the summer season.
Source: Bright MLS® Statistics for Residential, Multi-family, and Land Sales Data
