Why October 2025 Matters in Orange County Real Estate

Orange County has always been one of California’s most competitive and desirable housing markets. From the luxury oceanfront estates of Laguna Beach & Newport Beach to the family-friendly communities in Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach and Irvine, the region consistently ranks among the most dynamic real estate markets in the U.S.

October 2025 stands out as a pivotal month because it reflects both the seasonal slowdown that traditionally occurs in fall and the new pressures created by shifting interest rates, inflation concerns, and demographic changes. Buyers and sellers alike are asking: Is the Orange County housing market still climbing, stabilizing, or due for a correction?

This article…

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Why September 2025 Matters for Orange County Real Estate

September traditionally marks a turning point in Southern California housing. Families have wrapped up summer moves, schools are back in session, and serious buyers re-emerge after seasonal slowdowns. In Orange County—particularly Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach—this year’s September data reveals powerful shifts that buyers, sellers, and investors can’t afford to ignore.

Insight #1: Inventory Levels Hit an All-Time Low
  • Costa Mesa inventory dropped 14% year-over-year, limiting options for first-time buyers.
  • Huntington Beach saw a 10% decline in active listings, largely due to homeowners holding onto low-rate mortgages.
Costa Mesa Inventory Breakdown
  • Median days on…

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In August 2025, Orange County’s housing market is shifting gears. After years of runaway growth, the latest data shows a softening in countywide prices even as select pockets like Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach continue to showcase resilience. Median home prices across Orange County slipped by $55,000 compared to the previous month, dropping from $1.23 million to $1.175 million. Yet Costa Mesa recorded a strong year-over-year (YoY) increase of 8.8%, while Southeast Huntington Beach (especially the sought-after 92649 zip code) saw steady appreciation of nearly 5%.

This mixed bag of trends creates a fascinating landscape for buyers, sellers, and investors. With homes staying on the market longer—averaging 91 days, the longest since 2014—and over 60%…

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If you’re thinking of planting roots in Orange County, two names probably top your list: Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach. These neighboring coastal cities offer very different vibes—and depending on your lifestyle, one may be the perfect fit for your next move.

Let’s break down how each city stacks up in terms of schools, nightlife, walkability, beach access, and overall lifestyle to help you find your match.

Schools & Education

Costa Mesa:
  • Served primarily by the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, Costa Mesa offers a variety of public and private options. The city is also home to Orange Coast College, making it ideal for families with college-aged kids or those pursuing continuing education.
Huntington Beach:
  • Known for…

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Congratulations! You've decided to take the plunge and buy a home in Costa Mesa. This vibrant city offers a unique blend of beachside charm, urban excitement, and a thriving job market, making it an ideal place to put down roots. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned mover, navigating the real estate market in 2025 can be a challenge. But fear not! This ultimate guide will equip you with the knowledge and resources you need to find your dream home in Costa Mesa.

Part 1: Laying the Groundwork

Know your budget: Before diving into the house hunt, it's crucial to determine how much house you can afford. Get pre-approved for a mortgage to understand your borrowing power and set realistic expectations. Consider not just the monthly…

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Welcome to Mesa Verde, a charming neighborhood that offers a unique blend of suburban tranquility and modern conveniences. Whether you're a first-time homebuyer or looking to upgrade your living situation, Mesa Verde has something for everyone. Let’s dive into what makes this community so special, from its real estate market to its local demographics. You might even crack a smile while you’re at it.

Real Estate Market Overview

Mesa Verde is a hidden gem in the real estate world. While the market here is tighter than your jeans after Thanksgiving, it’s packed with robust opportunities:

Recent Market Highlights:
  • 12-Month Snapshot: Over the past year, Mesa Verde saw 96 sales with an average sales price of $1,725,000 and an average of 19…

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Every once in a while, it’s interesting to check in on the progress of Costa Mesa’s real estate doppelganger, the real estate metaverse, to see if it is becoming more popular (hence, real). It has definitely been progressing, but not in a uniformly positive direction—certainly as opined by controversial billionaire investor Mark Cuban.

At the beginning of this month, real estate news purveyor therealdeal.com published a less-than-encouraging update on the technological phenomenon’s progress. Its “reality check” revisited how the year began, as the “both simple and surreal” digital environs of the metaverse greatly benefitted from Facebook’s rebranding as “Meta Platforms, Inc..”

Since everyone knows that Facebook is a real thing, by “leaning into…

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It’s a phrase that would-be home buyers had been hearing ever since seller’s market conditions had begun. But when “Submit your best and final bid” was recently advised by one Chicago area listing agent, the words were jolting, according to last week’s NPR Newswire report describing a new kind of bidding war.

The ‘best and final’ bid being solicited wasn’t from an eager homebuyer who’d be competing with others for their dream home. It was for a rental apartment. The bid under discussion was for the amount above the asking rent. The couple had lost out on another apartment, so they agreed to offer more.

The situation is now becoming routine—and not just in big cities, where historically scarce vacancies have pushed rents to new heights. Low…

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The rationale behind U.S. housing’s rising prices has been nothing if not consistent. The tale has been all about the supply/demand imbalance—a textbook example that makes perfect sense for everyone with a smattering of free-market economics. For those who have been tracking the number of Costa Mesa listings, that’s why last Thursday’s release from the Census Bureau seemed to make no sense at all.

In housing markets from coast to coast, house hunters have consistently grumbled about the meager number of homes for sale. ‘Inventory shortage’ was the term that kept appearing, often preceded by modifiers like ‘growing’ and ‘acute.’ ‘Housing shortfall’ was another. Typical was the National Association of Realtors®’ January press conference, which…

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"Budget better, shop smarter!" might be unassailable advice for shoppers of all stripes, but at the outset of 2022, Costa Mesa house-hunting readers of USA Today's Real Estate pages could have used a few more precise tips on how to follow the exhortation. "After a year of bidding wars and record-high prices, here's what's changing for homebuyers…" was a promising headline—but what followed consisted mainly of reasons why intelligent shopping is a good idea.

The reasons included cautions about rising home loan interest rates, which would make better budgeting important, and the continuing national "supply-demand imbalance," which would make more nimble (if not specifically "smarter") shopping advisable.

Experts added reasons why this year's…

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