Every month I do a general overview of the OC real estate market - but once a year I do a review of the previous year (including evaluation of that year's forecasts that I made) and a forecast for the upcoming year
- INVENTORY: The active listing inventory in the past couple of weeks increased by 241 homes, up 6%, and now sits at 4,186, its highest level since September 2020. In March, 26% fewer homes came on the market compared to the 3-year average before COVID (2017 to 2019), 1,025 less. Yet, 522 more sellers came on the market this March compared to March 2024. Last year, there were 2,320 homes on the market, 1,866 fewer homes, or 45% less. The 3-year average before COVID (2017 to 2019) was 6,002, or 43% extra.
- DEMAND: Buyer demand, the number of pending sales over the prior month, decreased by 48 pending sales in the past two weeks, down 3%, and now totals 1,546, its second lowest April reading since tracking began in 2004, only behind the COVID lockdowns in 2020. Last year, there were 1,707 pending sales, 10% more. The 3-year average before COVID (2017 to 2019) was 2,780, or 80% more.
- MARKET TIME: With supply surging higher and demand down, the Expected Market Time, the number of days to sell all Orange County listings at the current buying pace, climbed from 74 to 81 days in the past couple of weeks, its slowest pace since mid-January’s 84 days. Last year, it was 41 days, substantially faster than today. The 3-year average before COVID (2017 to 2019) was 65 days, which is also much quicker than today.
- LUXURY: In the past two weeks, the Expected Market Time for homes priced between $2.5 million and $4 million increased from 155 to 187 days. For homes priced between $4 million and $6 million, the Expected Market Time decreased from 200 to 174 days. For homes priced above $6 million, the Expected Market Time increased from 446 to 584 days.
- DISTRESSED HOMES: Short sales and foreclosures combined, comprised only 0.2% of all listings and 0.3% of demand. Only six foreclosures and three short sales are available today in Orange County, with nine total distressed homes on the active market, up three from two weeks ago. Last year, four distressed homes were on the market, similar to today.
- CLOSED SALES: There were 1,801 closed residential resales in March, up 1% compared to March 2024’s 1,785 and 23% from February 2025. The sales-to-list price ratio was 99.4% for Orange County. Foreclosures accounted for 0.2% of all closed sales, and there were no short sales. That means that 99.8% of all sales were sellers with equity
For more information on the systems that I use and the extremely effective strategies I employ for both home buyers and sellers, please contact me.
Phone: 949.413.2371
Email: Michael@HausamGroup.com
Michael Hausam is a licensed Real Estate Broker (BRE Agent #1319560) and Mortgage Loan Originator (NMLS # 1577195). He's been a resident of Orange County, CA since 1990, he funded his first mortgage loan in 1991, has had a B-1 general contractors license since 2005, and he has had his real estate license for over 24 years.
For more educational and informational videos, click here -->