While the nation as a whole saw seriously underwater properties decrease by more than 37,000 from the first quarter of 2016, New Jersey experienced a jump of more than 8,800.
A sharp 12.8 percent decline in construction in the Midwest and a 3.7 dip in the Northeast propelled the broader decrease, with construction also falling in the South. It was nearly unchanged in the West.
There's a dark side to those delightfully low gas prices: Housing markets are slumping in communities that were recently flush from the U.S. shale oil fracking boom.
They've been scared off by stagnant wages and a lackluster housing market, but a good share of potential first-time homebuyers seem ready to take that plunge in the near future.
In New Jersey and many other states, more homes are hitting the market this time of year to meet the blooms of spring and rising temperatures. However, it's hardly ever safe to present your home "as is."