Middlesex County, New Jersey Court Filings Intelligence
Live court-record analysis of property-related filings (foreclosure, probate, divorce, partition, guardianship). Data sourced direct from Middlesex County court dockets. Updated 2026-07-10. See methodology.
About Middlesex County
Middlesex County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, extending inland from the Raritan Valley region to the northern portion of the Jersey Shore. As of the 2020 United States census, the county was the state's third-most populous county with a population of 863,162, its highest decennial count ever and an increase of 53,304 (+6.6%) from the 2010 census count of 809,858, which in turn reflected an increase of 59,696 (8.0%) from the 750,162 counted in the 2000 census. The United States Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program estimated a 2025 population of 883,335, an increa
Source: Wikipedia
At a glance
7 verified property-related court filings tracked across 1 months (May 2026 to May 2026).
#4 of 4 New Jersey counties Keystone covers, ranked by total filing volume.
14% of filings involve owners whose mailing address differs from the property address (1 of 7 filings).
$541,000 median estimated property value across the 7 filings with property-enrichment data (100% coverage).
4.2% New Jersey unemployment rate (BLS, as of 2026-05). Filings should be read against the local-economy backdrop.
Filing type breakdown
| Filing type | Filings | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreclosure (Post-Filing) | 6 | 85.7% | |
| Pre-Probate | 1 | 14.3% |
Each row is a distinct case verified for current owner-of-record before inclusion.
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Monthly filing activity
| Month | Filings | vs prior | |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | 7 |
Each row reflects new filings entering the dataset that month, after ownership verification. Most recent month may be partial.
Geographic concentration by ZIP
Top 6 ZIPs in Middlesex County account for 100.0% of all tracked filings, showing where distressed real estate activity clusters.
| ZIP | City | Filings | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 08816 | East Brunswick | 2 | 28.6% | |
| 07008 | Carteret | 1 | 14.3% | |
| 08879 | South Amboy | 1 | 14.3% | |
| 08812 | Dunellen | 1 | 14.3% | |
| 08852 | Monmouth Junction | 1 | 14.3% | |
| 08902 | North Brunswick | 1 | 14.3% |
Based on filings with a parseable property address (100% of Middlesex County filings).
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Property value distribution
| Estimated value | Filings | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| $250k - $400k | 1 | 14.3% | |
| $400k+ | 6 | 85.7% |
Source: third-party property enrichment (100% coverage on Middlesex County filings). Median $541,000; mean $577,571.
Day-of-week filing pattern
| Day | Filings | Share | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sun | 0 | 0.0% | |
| Mon | 0 | 0.0% | |
| Tue | 1 | 14.3% | |
| Wed | 3 | 42.9% | |
| Thu | 2 | 28.6% | |
| Fri | 1 | 14.3% | |
| Sat | 0 | 0.0% |
Filings cluster Monday through Friday, with weekend filings essentially absent (court system closed). Computed for 7 filings with a parseable date.
Housing stock + distress signals
Underlying housing stock and distress indicators across all 316633 Middlesex County housing units, from US Census ACS 5-year data. National reference values shown for context.
| Indicator | Middlesex County | US average |
|---|---|---|
| Vacancy rate (incl. seasonal + for-sale) | 3.5% | 10.5% |
| Share of owner-occupied units carrying a mortgage | 64.0% | 60.8% |
| Pre-1940 housing stock | 10.6% | 12.3% |
| Single-family detached share of housing stock | 52.6% | 61.2% |
| Residents age 65 or older | 15.8% | 17.3% |
Source: US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS 2023 5-year). National reference values are ACS 2022 5-year US totals. Why these matter: vacancy rate is the strongest single proxy for distressed inventory; mortgage-carrying share defines the risk pool exposed to rate environment; pre-1940 stock signals deferred maintenance and renovation opportunity; senior population correlates with probate pipeline depth.
Rent benchmark (HUD Fair Market Rent)
HUD sets Fair Market Rents at the metro area level — the same FMRs apply to every county within the metro. Middlesex County sits within the New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ. Used to set Section 8 voucher amounts; investors use it as a defensible rent-estimate floor for buy-to-rent underwriting.
| Unit size | Fair market rent / month |
|---|---|
| Efficiency / studio | $1,804 |
| 1-bedroom | $1,978 |
| 2-bedroom | $2,486 |
| 3-bedroom | $2,981 |
| 4-bedroom | $3,296 |
Source: US Department of Housing and Urban Development, Fair Market Rents (None). 40th-percentile gross rent including utilities. Why this matters: Section-8-eligible tenants are a baseline demand floor for rental inventory at these price points; FMR is the official ceiling for voucher-eligible rents.
New construction (market momentum)
Annual building permits filed in Middlesex County from the US Census Building Permits Survey. Trend signal on whether new housing demand is accelerating or contracting in this market.
| Indicator | Value |
|---|---|
| Total housing units permitted (2025) | 1,476 |
| Year-over-year change (2024 → 2025) | -17.6% |
| Single-family share of permits (2025) | 48.1% |
| Single-family units permitted | 710 |
| Multifamily units permitted (2+ units per building) | 766 |
Source: US Census Bureau Building Permits Survey, annual cumulative data. Why this matters: permits trending up signals strong demand for new inventory; permits contracting at the same time foreclosure activity rises indicates broader market softening (deals price differently). Multifamily share shows whether the market is densifying or holding to single-family stock.
Macro context: state home prices and national delinquency
Middlesex County filings should be read against the broader housing-market backdrop. New Jersey state home-price trend and the national mortgage-delinquency rate are the two macro signals most directly relevant to foreclosure exposure.
| Indicator | Value | Period |
|---|---|---|
| New Jersey home price index (year-over-year) | +5.4% | 2026-01-01 |
| New Jersey home price index (cumulative since 2020) | +74.5% | 2026-01-01 |
| National mortgage delinquency rate (30+ day, single-family) | 1.89% | 2026-01-01 |
Sources: Federal Housing Finance Agency state house price indices (FRED series NJSTHPI); Federal Reserve Board, Mortgage Delinquency 30+Day Rate on Single-Family Residential Mortgages (FRED series DRSFRMACBS). Updated quarterly. Free public data.
Local-market benchmark
Demographics of the ZIPs where filings cluster, weighted by filing count and benchmarked against Census ACS 2023 5-year:
| Indicator | Filing-weighted average |
|---|---|
| Median household income (where filings cluster) | $118,307 |
| Median home value | $439,971 |
| Owner-occupancy rate | 68.1% |
| Renter share of households | 31.9% |
| Median gross rent | $1,901/mo |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-year estimates, weighted by Keystone's filing volume across 6 top ZIPs.
Market Absorption & Turnover Analysis
44 court filings tracked with 0 resolved (0.0% absorption rate). The court system is accumulating cases faster than they resolve, creating a growing backlog of 44 active cases.
| Month | New Filings | Resolved | Net | Inflow | Absorption |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2026 | 6 | 0 | +6 | 0.0% | |
| May 2026 | 38 | 0 | +38 | 0.0% |
Resolution by Case Type
| Case Type | Filed | Resolved | Absorption | Avg Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreclosure | 24 | 0 | 0.0% | n/a |
| Estate | 17 | 0 | 0.0% | n/a |
Absorption rate measures the percentage of filed cases that have reached a terminal resolution (judgment, dismissal, settlement, or sale). A low absorption rate indicates a growing backlog of active cases in the court system. Resolution timing based on 0 resolved cases out of 44 total filings.
Equity-Outcome Correlation
40 properties with assessed values analyzed across equity levels. High-equity properties (20%+) represent 15.0% of filings with a 0.0% resolution rate.
| Equity Level | Properties | Share | Resolved | Resolution Rate | Avg Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High (20%+) |
6
|
15.0% | 0 | 0.0% | — |
| Unknown Equity |
33
|
82.5% | 0 | 0.0% | — |
Equity Profile by Case Type
| Case Type | Properties | High Equity % | Resolution Rate | Avg Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreclosure | 20 | 25.0% | 0.0% | — |
| Estate | 17 | 0.0% | 0.0% | — |
Equity positions derived from county assessor data (assessed values minus outstanding liens where available). Resolution outcomes classified from court docket entries. Only properties with non-zero assessed values are included in this analysis.
Case Aging & Stall Analysis
0 cases (0.0%) have been active for over a year without resolution. 44 filings in the last 30-90 days represent fresh opportunities.
| Age | Total | Resolved | Still active | Resolution rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30-90 days | 44 | 0 | 44 | 0.0% |
Resolution speed by case type
| Case type | Total | Resolved | Rate | Median days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foreclosure | 24 | 0 | 0.0% | — |
| Estate | 17 | 0 | 0.0% | — |
Case aging computed from filing date to present for unresolved cases. Resolution classified from court docket entries (judgments, settlements, dismissals, sheriff sales). Cases with a resolution event are removed from the stall count.
Municipality filing concentration in Middlesex County
Court filings in Middlesex County span 16 municipalities. East Brunswick Township leads with 6 filings (16.7% of total), predominantly Foreclosure (50.0%). Filings show moderate geographic spread — the top 3 municipalities account for 39% of filings.
| Municipality | Filings | Share | Top case type |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Brunswick Township | 6 | 16.7% | Foreclosure (50.0%) |
| Monroe Township | 4 | 11.1% | Estate (75.0%) |
| Old Bridge Township | 4 | 11.1% | Estate (50.0%) |
| Carteret Borough | 3 | 8.3% | Foreclosure (100.0%) |
| Edison Township | 3 | 8.3% | Estate (100.0%) |
| Middlesex Borough | 3 | 8.3% | Foreclosure (66.7%) |
| Woodbridge Township | 3 | 8.3% | Foreclosure (100.0%) |
| Sayreville Borough | 2 | 5.6% | Foreclosure (100.0%) |
| Dunellen Borough | 1 | 2.8% | Foreclosure (100.0%) |
| South Brunswick Township | 1 | 2.8% | Foreclosure (100.0%) |
| Piscataway Township | 1 | 2.8% | Divorce (100.0%) |
| South Plainfield Borough | 1 | 2.8% | Estate (100.0%) |
| Milltown Borough | 1 | 2.8% | Estate (100.0%) |
| New Brunswick City | 1 | 2.8% | Estate (100.0%) |
| Spotswood Borough | 1 | 2.8% | Estate (100.0%) |
Top 15 of 16 municipalities with court filings. Data from 36 filings (82% of total). Municipality names from county assessor records.
Property Value Distribution
The median property value in distressed filings is $200,800, with the largest concentration (22.5%) in the $200K–$300K range. Foreclosure filings have the highest median value ($237,600) while Estate filings are lowest ($165,900).
| Price range | Count | Share | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under $50K | 2 | 5.0% | |
| $50K–$100K | 7 | 17.5% | |
| $100K–$150K | 3 | 7.5% | |
| $150K–$200K | 8 | 20.0% | |
| $200K–$300K | 9 | 22.5% | |
| $300K–$500K | 3 | 7.5% | |
| $500K+ | 8 | 20.0% |
Value by case type
| Case type | Median value | Average value | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreclosure | $237,600 | $311,478 | 20 |
| Estate | $165,900 | $195,782 | 17 |
Assessed property values from county assessor records for 40 properties (90.9% of total filings). Values reflect tax-assessed amounts, not market price.
Ownership Duration Before Filing
The median ownership duration before a court filing is 8.6 years, with 44.7% of owners holding the property 10+ years (a strong equity signal for investors). Estate cases show the longest tenure (22.4 yr median) vs. Foreclosure (6.9 yr).
| Ownership period | Count | Share | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 2 years | 4 | 10.5% | |
| 2–5 years | 8 | 21.1% | |
| 5–10 years | 9 | 23.7% | |
| 10–20 years | 4 | 10.5% | |
| 20+ years | 13 | 34.2% |
Tenure by case type
| Case type | Median tenure | Average tenure | Properties |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreclosure | 6.9 yr | 10.1 yr | 20 |
| Estate | 22.4 yr | 21.7 yr | 15 |
Duration calculated from last recorded property sale to court filing date for 38 properties (86.4% of total filings). Longer ownership often correlates with higher equity.
Land vs improvement value composition
Across 39 properties with assessed value breakdowns, the median land share is 36.2% (median land value $65,400, median improvement value $123,300). 5 properties (12.8%) are land-dominant (50%+ land value) — potential teardown or vacant-lot targets. Estate cases skew most land-heavy (median 38.7%) while Foreclosure skews most improvement-heavy (28.5%).
Land share distribution
| Land share bracket | Properties | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| Under 10% | 1 | 2.6% |
| 10–20% | 4 | 10.3% |
| 20–30% | 7 | 17.9% |
| 30–50% | 22 | 56.4% |
| 50–70% | 5 | 12.8% |
Land share by case type
| Case type | Filings | Median land % |
|---|---|---|
| Foreclosure | 19 | 28.5% |
| Estate | 17 | 38.7% |
Analysis of 39 properties (88.6% of filings) with assessed land and improvement value breakdowns.
Prior sale value trajectory
Across 38 properties with purchase and assessed value data, the median value change since purchase is -1.8%. 19 properties (50.0%) are underwater (current assessed value below purchase price). Short-hold owners (<5 yr) show a median -52.1% value change vs +1.3% for long-hold (10+ yr). Estate cases have the highest underwater rate (53.3%) while Foreclosure has the lowest (50.0%).
Value change distribution
| Value change bracket | Properties | % of total |
|---|---|---|
| 50%+ loss | 15 | 39.5% |
| 20–50% loss | 2 | 5.3% |
| 0–20% loss | 2 | 5.3% |
| 0–20% gain | 2 | 5.3% |
| 20–50% gain | 3 | 7.9% |
| 50–100% gain | 2 | 5.3% |
| 100%+ gain | 12 | 31.6% |
Holding period vs value change
(12 properties)
(17 properties)
Value trajectory by case type
| Case type | Filings | Median change | Underwater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foreclosure | 20 | +8.0% | 50.0% |
| Estate | 15 | -41.4% | 53.3% |
Analysis of 38 properties (86.4% of filings) with both prior sale price and current assessed value data.
Why these filings are invisible on most public foreclosure sites
The largest public foreclosure-aggregator interfaces surface only post-auction bank-owned properties in New Jersey. Pre-foreclosure court filings are not visible to their non-paying users. Keystone tracks the court filing the day it hits the docket, weeks or months before any property reaches the auction stage those aggregators surface.
Methodology and full audit: Court-vs-aggregator coverage gap report.
Methodology and data sources
- Court filings are collected directly from Middlesex County court records, which are public information.
- Every filing in this dataset has been verified for current owner-of-record. Entity-owned filings (LLCs, trusts, banks) and properties where the named party is not the current owner are excluded.
- Property value figures come from third-party enrichment (100% coverage on this dataset).
- Individual case data, defendant names, and property addresses are not published. Reports show aggregated statistics only.
- The methodology page at /reports/methodology documents data sources, sample sizes, and known limitations in detail.
- This report was generated 2026-07-10 from the live database. Numbers reflect the dataset at that moment.
Filing volume trend (last 1 months)
Property-related court filings tracked in Middlesex County by calendar month. Trend signal on whether distress activity is rising or cooling in this market.
| Month | Filings |
|---|---|
| May 2026 | 7 |
Related New Jersey guides
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Cite: Keystone Court Data, "Middlesex County New Jersey Court Filings Intelligence," 2026-07-10, https://keystonecourtdata.com/reports/middlesex-nj-court-filings-intelligence · Download data (CSV)