Updated every two weeks
Orange County Trends Report
Latest update: October 12, 2026
Rates Rise, Housing Stalls
What This Means for Your Home
Buyers Pulled Back Fast
Mortgage rates jumped from 6.75% to 7.5% in about six weeks, and the number of homes going into escrow in Orange County dropped 18% over that same stretch. Rates were 6% back in February. On a $1.2 million home with 20% down, the payment is about $956 a month higher today than it was then. Buyers feel that right away.
Homes Are Taking Longer to Sell
At today's pace, it would take about 118 days to sell every home on the market in Orange County. A year ago it was 85 days. Single-family homes are moving faster than condos and townhomes, about 105 days compared with 139.
More Homes Are Competing for Fewer Buyers
There are about 10% more homes for sale than this time last year, with fewer buyers writing offers. In a market like this, pricing, preparation and marketing matter more, because buyers have time to compare.
Timing Is a Decision, Not a Guess
Steven expects the number of homes for sale to stay high until the week before Thanksgiving, then drop quickly through the holidays as fewer homes come on and some sellers pull theirs off the market. If a move is in your family's future, the right timing depends on your goals, not the headlines.
Want to know what these trends mean for your home? Let's start with a conversation. I'll listen first, then we'll look at your goals and your timeline together.
Market numbers from the Orange County Housing Report by Steven Thomas, Reports On Housing, October 12, 2026.
Jeanette Nelson Real Estate, Keller Williams Realty | 714.366.8575 | DRE: 01397168