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.

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.