Wildfires have caused widespread devastation across Los Angeles County, forcing many residents to seek temporary housing and assistance. In Orange County, neighbors and friends have opened their homes, offering support to those impacted. Whether you need emergency shelters, short-term rentals, or disaster relief, this guide provides essential resources to help navigate the crisis. Many of the resources listed are specific to Los Angeles County, but can also benefit nearby communities facing similar challenges.

Orange County Housing Report 2025: Real Estate Trends & Forecast

The Orange County housing market remains a dynamic and complex landscape, shaped by shifting inventory levels, fluctuating mortgage rates, and evolving buyer demand. With 2024 almost behind us, this report takes a deep dive into the trends that defined the past year—rising active inventory, muted demand, and a resurging luxury market—and offers key insights into what 2025 may hold for Orange County real estate.

A surprising 44% of Americans thought the housing market would crash and values would plunge, according to a LendingTree survey conducted at the end of last year. A shocking 52% of millennials believed in a 2024 crash.

A recent study from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows most sellers (61%) completed at least minor repairs when selling their house. But sometimes life gets in the way and that’s just not possible.

With so many varying viewpoints and narratives swirling about the Orange County housing market, taking a step back to assess current real estate trends can provide much-needed clarity. As we enter the final stretch of the 2024 housing market, a few pivotal trends are emerging that offer valuable insights for Orange County sellers, buyers, and investors alike. Here’s a look at the Top 3 Real Estate Trends identified by my colleague and seasoned housing economist, Steven Thomas, shedding light on what to expect in the Orange County market as the year concludes.

As the inventory continues to rise, more sellers are reducing their asking prices or pulling their homes off the market altogether, indicative that far too many homes are overpriced.

Housing has been slowing through both the Spring and Summer Markets, yet the slowdown has picked up its pace since transitioning to the Autumn Market.

Mortgage rates have plunged from 7.5% in April to 6.34% today, opening up a window of opportunity for buyers who should not wait.

Whether you’re putting your home on the market in a few weeks or a few years, strategic upgrades can make all the difference.

Housing is much different this year compared to last year, with more FOR-SALE signs, more OPEN HOUSE directional arrows, and longer market times.

Longer market times and more price reductions are very strong indicators that sellers will net less upon closing.

Last December, when the Federal Reserve projected a series of benchmark rate cuts in the coming year, some analysts speculated that mortgage rates—which had recently peaked near 8%—would fall closer to 6% by mid-2024.

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The peak moving season is upon us. In fact, according to Move.com, almost 70% of U.S. moves occur between May and September.1 And while the percentage of Americans who move each year has declined, the desire to relocate remains strong.

While the inventory may still be limited and not even close to returning to pre-pandemic levels, there are finally more homes coming on the market. There are 18% more sellers than last year.

Attention to homeowners aged 55 and better: If you're feeling stuck in a home that no longer suits your lifestyle, there's good news with Prop 19.

It is best to step back from all the narratives, opinions, and noise whirling around the housing market and focus on the trends.

The Orange County inventory has been on the rise and is starting to pick up steam, unlike last year when it continuously dropped through mid-April.

🌱🏡 Spotting 'green shoots'🌱of economic recovery in Orange County's real estate market!

After bouncing along a record-low number of homeowners willing to sell in the high mortgage rate ienvironment for over a year, there were more new sellers in January compared to 2023, the first “Green Shoot” sins rate soared higher in 2022.