Mortgage rates just took their biggest step up in a long time. Freddie Mac's weekly survey put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.28% on October 1, 2026. That's up from 7.03% the week before and 6.34% a year ago. (Freddie Mac's survey is updated every Thursday.)
Here's what that looks like on a $400,000 loan, counting principal and interest only:
| 30-year fixed rate | Monthly payment |
|---|---|
| 6.34% (a year ago) | $2,486 |
| 7.03% (last week) | $2,669 |
| 7.28% (this week) | $2,737 |
Same house, same loan, about $250 more a month than a year ago. And that's before taxes and insurance.
You can't control the rate. What you can control is how many surprises are waiting for you after closing. When the payment already takes most of the budget, a problem you didn't see coming hurts a lot more.
The good news is that a lot of those surprises are sitting in public records. Here are six worth checking on any New Jersey house before you make an offer.
1. Open Permits
A permit that was opened and never closed means the town never signed off on the work. It could be a roof from 2009 or a basement bathroom from last year.
Open permits stay with the house, not the seller. If you buy it, they're yours. Depending on the town, they can slow down a closing, or come back years later when you apply for a permit of your own.
Also look at what isn't there. If the listing shows a finished basement or a new deck and there's no permit on file, that's a question to ask before you bid, not after.
How to check: search the address to see the permit history we can pull from state and town records. For the town's full file, you can send a public records request to the clerk.
2. The Flood Zone
If the house sits in a high-risk flood zone and you're getting a mortgage, the lender will usually require flood insurance. That's another bill every month, on top of the payment above.
Check two things: the zone on the map that's in effect today, and whether FEMA has a preliminary map for the area. Preliminary maps aren't in effect yet, but they show where the lines may be headed.
How to check: the flood zone tool shows the zone at the building, whether insurance is required, and the claims history for the area.
3. Oil Tanks and Contamination
Plenty of older New Jersey homes were heated with oil, and many of those tanks are still in the ground. The state keeps records of tank cases and known contaminated sites.
A clean record is a good sign, but it isn't proof. A lot of old tanks were never reported to anyone. If the house was built before natural gas reached the street, ask about a tank sweep during inspection.
How to check: the contamination tool shows state cleanup cases at and around the address.
4. The Sewer Line
The pipe that runs from the house to the main in the street is called the sewer lateral. When it breaks, somebody pays for the repair, and the answer to "who?" is in your town's code. It isn't the same everywhere.
Know the rule before you own the pipe.
How to check: the sewer line tool shows what your town's code says.
5. Lead Pipes
Water utilities in New Jersey keep a list of what each service line is made of, on their side and on the property side. That list is about the pipe, not a test of the water, but it tells you whether a replacement may be in your future.
How to check: the lead pipes tool shows what the utility has listed for the address. You can also check the pipe yourself. We wrote a five-minute guide for that.
6. The Real Tax Bill
Property taxes are part of your monthly payment, and in New Jersey they're a big part. Don't rely on the number in the listing. Look at the assessed value on the tax roll and the town's actual rate.
How to check: the property tax tool shows both.
Why Timing Matters More Right Now
When you lock a rate, the lock has an expiration date. If closing slips past it, you may have to pay to extend it or take whatever the rate is that day. In a market where rates moved a quarter point in a week, that's real money.
Paperwork is one of the most common reasons a closing slips. An open permit nobody knew about. A town certificate nobody ordered. Many New Jersey towns require a certificate or an inspection before a sale can close, and the rules are different in each one.
How to check: the CO requirements tool shows what your town asks for and who has to get it.
The Short Version
| What to check | Why it matters now | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Open permits | They become yours at closing | Address search |
| Flood zone | Insurance may be required | Flood tool |
| Oil tanks and contamination | Old tanks often went unreported | Contamination tool |
| Sewer line | The repair may be on you | Sewer tool |
| Lead pipes | A replacement may be coming | Lead pipes tool |
| Property taxes | Part of every monthly payment | Tax tool |
| Town certificates | Delays can outlast a rate lock | CO tool |
If You're Selling
Read the same list from the other side. With rates this high, there are fewer buyers and they're more careful. A deal that falls apart over an open permit is hard to replace. Look up your own address first and clear what you can before you list.
One Last Thing
None of this replaces a home inspection, and none of it is mortgage advice. Talk to your lender about the rate. But the records are public, they're free to look up, and it takes a few minutes. At 7.28%, that's time well spent.