The Current State of the Coastal Orange County Real Estate Market

Missy Wiesen
Jul 1, 2025
3 min read

The headlines are loud: “Buyer’s Market Emerging!” “Sellers Losing Power!” “The Shift Is Here!” But is all that noise really showing up in Coastal Orange County?

Front view of a coastal-style home with a “For Sale” sign in the yard, overlooking the ocean on a sunny day — symbolizing real estate opportunities in Coastal Orange County. — Homes for sale in Coastal Orange County are still commanding attention, especially when they are priced right. Despite National headlines, strategic sellers are seeing some serious action.

For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Missy Wiesen — your Coastal Orange County real estate pro. I show you what it’s really like to live in The OC. Thinking about buying, selling, or investing in Orange County real estate?

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Let’s dive into the numbers and compare the national red flags with what’s happening locally.

1. Homes Are Selling Below Asking Nationally

National Trend: Redfin reports more homes are closing under list price in 2025.

OC Reality Check:Coastal Orange County homes are still selling impressively close to asking:

Corona del Mar: 94.0% of list price
Laguna Niguel: 98.4%
Dana Point: 96.6%
Newport Beach: 96.8%
Laguna Beach: 95.2%

✅ Verdict: Not a buyer’s market here... yet.

2. Inventory Is Rising Faster Than Demand Nationally

National Trend: In many metros, new listings are outpacing buyer demand.

OC Reality Check:Let’s look at inventory shifts over the past two weeks:

Newport Beach: 259 → 263
CDM: 85 → 88
Laguna Beach: 239 → 236
Laguna Niguel: 166 → 166
Dana Point: 117 → 135

Why it matters: Inventory is a critical piece of the story. Along with interest rates and demand, inventory tells us where prices may go. As long as supply stays tight, significant price drops are unlikely. The rate of appreciation may vary based on demand and borrowing costs, but don’t expect a crash while inventory remains constrained.

Even though inventory in Laguna Beach dropped for the first time since mid-May, it's still the slowest of the coastal markets. Meanwhile, Laguna Niguel continues to move at a strong pace.

Aerial view of homes in Laguna Niguel with Dana Point and the Pacific Ocean visible in the distance under a clear blue sky. — Laguna Niguel and Dana Point defy the national slowdown. Both markets are seeing faster sales, especially in the under-$2.5M range. Local momentum still beats the headlines.

Buyer Behavior: Sentiment is opportunistic. Even ultra-luxury homes are moving quickly if priced and presented right. In the $1.5M–$2.5M range, some buyers are waiting for rate cuts, but savvy ones aren’t sitting idle. In fact, I’ve got an ultra-luxury buyer currently in backup position on not one, but two properties that flew off the market in under a week.

⚠️ Verdict: The market is nuanced, not flooded. Smart strategy still wins.

3. Time on Market Is Stretching Out

National Trend: Days on Market (DOM) is climbing across most U.S. metros.

OC Reality Check:

Laguna Niguel: Sold DOM = 28; active DOM = 52
Dana Point: Sold DOM = 50; active DOM = 78
Newport Beach: Sold = 45; active = 82
Laguna Beach: Sold = 54; active = 112
Corona del Mar: Sold = 58; active = 79

And here’s where it gets interesting: 35% of all homes sold in Coastal OC in the last 30 days sold in under 10 days on market. And on average, those homes closed at 5% more than properties that sat for 30+ days.

❌ Verdict: Not a buyer-controlled market. Just more balanced.

4. Economic Uncertainty + Rate Paralysis

National Trend: Rates remain around 7% and economic concerns persist.

OC Reality Check:

Today’s rate? 6.67% — still a headwind, but not a showstopper.
Coastal OC buyers under $2.5M are showing resilience.
Tariffs, inflation, and affordability create some hesitation, but buyers haven’t checked out.

🟡 Verdict: It’s strategy season, not panic mode.

So… Is Coastal OC Becoming a Buyer’s Market?

Not exactly.The U.S. may be flirting with a shift, but Coastal OC is holding its ground — especially in price points under $2.5M and well-priced luxury pockets like Corona del Mar.

Pricing, presentation, and data-driven strategy are everything right now.

If you’ve been waiting for a “deal”?You might have a little more leverage — but don’t expect a fire sale. Look for value in homes that have been on the market 30+ days. Those are your best bet for negotiation.