As mortgage rates continue their sustained climb—now averaging 7.2% for 30-year fixed loans—the once-open streets of Monmouth County, NJ, are facing a quiet but profound shift. The promise of a home tour, once a routine step in a buyer’s journey, now feels increasingly out of reach for many. Beyond the spreadsheets and interest rates lies a deeper narrative: how elevated borrowing costs are not just raising prices, but reshaping the very rhythm of real estate engagement in one of New Jersey’s most dynamic counties.

Behind the Numbers: A House of DebtOpen Houses as Pressure TestingThe Hidden Costs of Stagnant SupplyA Shift in Engagement RitualsDemographic Ripples and Equity GapsWhat This Means for the Future

Higher Mortgage Rates Could Limit Any Open House Mon

Recommended for you