Is Montclair in a Housing Bubble? Plus: Front Row at Jazz Fest & If a Tree Falls, Who Pays?

Montclair's 07042 ZIP code just landed at #2 on Realtor.com's list of the hottest housing markets in the country — so naturally, we wanted to know: is this a bubble waiting to burst? We put the question to Professor Joshua Harris, a real estate economist at Fordham, and break down what's actually driving the numbers, including a wild bit of compounding-interest math on a Bellevue Avenue building that sold for $50,000 in 1973. We also cover a very "Montclair Pod" legal question after a tree branch came down in Mike's yard, catch you up on the sights and sounds of the Montclair Jazz Festival, and hit the news: a new lawsuit against the school district, the never-ending saga of the Church Street piano, and another delay for the proposed Upper Montclair swim school. Plus: real estate headlines, including Aaron Rodgers listing his Cedar Grove-adjacent mansion, and Mike says goodbye to his daughter Rea as she heads off to college.

What's In This Episode

• Are We in a Housing Bubble?: Montclair's 07042 ZIP just ranked #2 on Realtor.com's 2026 Hottest ZIP Codes list. We talk to Professor Joshua Harris, an economist and Executive Director of Fordham's Real Estate Institute, about whether the market's due for a correction — plus our (very unscientific) Instagram poll where listeners split exactly 50/50.
• The $50,000 Building That Could've Been $14 Million: The building housing Tinga just sold for $1.8 million — and last changed hands for $50,000 in 1973. We run the numbers on what that money would be worth today if it had gone into the S&P 500 instead, versus what it would be worth if the rent had been reinvested along the way.
• Whose Tree, Whose Bill?: A branch from a neighbor's tree came down in Mike's yard during a storm. Who's actually responsible when that happens in New Jersey? We dig into the law — including a real Clifton, NJ case — and the insurance math that made us think twice about filing a claim.
• Sights & Sounds of the Montclair Jazz Festival: A recap of the festival, including the Christian McBride Big Band's tribute to Philadelphia, a electrifying set from Patrice Rushen (yes, "Forget Me Nots," yes she's 71), Dianne Reeves, and a chat with Jelly Joseph of the Take Me to the River New Orleans All-Stars. Full video on our YouTube.
• In the News: A wrongful termination lawsuit against the Board of Education and board member Jada Roman; the latest twist in the fight over the removed Church Street community piano; and another delay for the proposed SwimQuest swim school in Upper Montclair.
• Around Town: Ribbon cuttings at Clementina and Farmhouse Fried Chicken, and Farnoosh's eventful second trip to see Spider-Man.
• One Big Thing: Mike drops his daughter Rea off for her first year of college.

Resources & Links

• Housing Bubble: Montclair 07042 Named Second Hottest ZIP Code in the Country (montclairpod.com)
• Guest: Prof. Joshua Harris, Fordham Real Estate Institute
• Building Sale: Net-Leased Montclair Restaurant Building Trades for $1.8 Million (re-nj.com)
• Real Estate: Aaron Rodgers Lists Home for $15 Million (New York Post)
• Tree Law Case Reference: Burke v. Briggs, 239 N.J. Super. 269 (App. Div. 1990) — the controlling NJ case on liability when a tree falls onto a neighbor's property
• School Lawsuit: Former Montclair Schools Employee Sues, Alleges Board Member Had Her Fired (Montclair Local)
• Church Street Piano: Council Meeting Clip — Instagram | Council Meeting Clip — Facebook
• Swim School: Montclair Planning Board Delays Vote on Swim School Proposal (Jersey Digs)
• Clementina: our original episode & article on how Clementina came to Montclair 
• Jazz Fest: watch the full sights-and-sounds segment on our YouTube Channel

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