Orange County Housing Report | The Rest of 2020

Housing Trends: With a low supply and strong demand, the market has not been this hot since 2013.

Orange County Housing Market Summary:

• The active listing inventory decreased by 55 homes in the past two-weeks, down 1%, and now totals 4,590, its lowest level for July since tracking began in 2004. In the past four-weeks, 6% fewer homes were placed on the market compared to the prior 5-year average. It was a 54% difference at the end of April; thus, COVID-19’s grip on suppressing the inventory is diminishing. Last year, there were 7,601 homes on the market, 3,011 additional homes, or 66% more.
• Demand, the number of pending sales over the prior month, increased by 150 pending sales in the past two-weeks, up 5%, and now totals 3,200, its highest level since October 2012. COVID-19 currently has no effect on demand. Last year, there were 2,505 pending sales, 22% fewer than today.
• The Expected Market Time for all of Orange County decreased from 46 days to 43, a Hot Seller’s Market (less than 60
  days). It was at 91 days last year, much slower than today.
• For homes priced below $750,000, the market is a hot Seller’s Market (less than 60 days) with an expected market time of 31 days. This range represents 34% of the active inventory and 47% of demand.
• For homes priced between $750,000 and $1 million, the expected market time is 29 days, a hot Seller’s Market. This range represents 17% of the active inventory and 26% of demand.
• For homes priced between $1 million to $1.25 million, the expected market time is 48 days, a hot Seller’s Market.
• For luxury homes priced between $1.25 million and $1.5 million, in the past two weeks, the Expected Market Time decreased from 60 to 53 days. For homes priced between $1.5 million and $2 million, the Expected Market Time increased from 71 to 81 days. For luxury homes priced between $2 million and $4 million, the Expected Market Time decreased from 113 to 109 days.
• For luxury homes priced above $4 million, the Expected Market Time increased from 249 to 274 days.
• The luxury end, all homes above $1.25 million, accounts for 38% of the inventory and only 17% of demand.
• Distressed homes, both short sales and foreclosures combined, made up only 0.5% of all listings and 0.6% of demand. There are only 12 foreclosures and 13 short sales available to purchase today in all of Orange County, 25 total distressed homes on the active market, down 2 from two-weeks ago. Last year there were 56 total distressed homes on the market, slightly more than today.
• There were 2,169 closed residential resales in June, 20% fewer than June 2019’s 2,715 closed sales. The sold data is beginning to reflect the recent surge in demand. June marked a 56% increase compared to May 2020. The sales to list price ratio was 97.6% for all of Orange County. Foreclosures accounted for just 0.4% of all closed sales, and short sales accounted for 0.2%. That means that 99.4% of all sales were good ol’ fashioned sellers with equity.