The short answer
Orange County condos and townhomes sold for an average of $953,992 in the third quarter of 2026 (July through September), up 1.3% from $941,942 in Q3 2025. They spent an average of 41 days active in MLS, three days longer than a year ago, and sellers received 97.1% of their original asking price. Closings fell 6.3% to 1,841, and new listings fell 2.6% to 2,712.
Scope note: This report covers attached homes in Orange County: condominiums, townhomes, and attached single-family homes. Detached single-family homes move differently and have their own Q3 report.
Put simply: condo and townhome prices held steady, but the market slowed. Buyers had more time and more choices than a year ago, and more room than buyers of detached homes.
Christine Almarines is a top real estate agent in Buena Park and Cerritos helping homeowners sell in Orange County and Los Angeles County. Here’s the plain read on what the Q3 condo and townhome numbers say.
What are the Q3 2026 numbers for Orange County condos and townhomes?
All figures are attached homes (condominiums, townhomes, and attached single-family) in Orange County, from the California Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS), pulled October 3, 2026.
| Measure | Q3 2026 | Q3 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average sale price | $953,992 | $941,942 | Up 1.3% |
| Closed sales | 1,841 | 1,965 | Down 6.3% |
| New listings | 2,712 | 2,785 | Down 2.6% |
| Average days active in MLS | 41 | 38 | 3 days slower |
| Percent of original price received | 97.1% | 97.0% | About flat |
How the quarter figures were built: CRMLS reports these measures month by month. Closed sales and new listings are the three months added together. Average price, days active, and percent of original price are the three monthly figures weighted by the number of homes that closed each month.
Month by month inside Q3 2026
| Month | Average sale price | Closed sales | New listings | Avg days active | % of original price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | $942,364 | 665 | 1,026 | 41 | 97.3% |
| August 2026 | $951,386 | 588 | 902 | 40 | 97.2% |
| September 2026 | $969,750 | 588 | 784 | 43 | 96.8% |
Are Orange County condo prices going up?
Slightly. The Q3 2026 average of $953,992 was 1.3% above Q3 2025, but 2.6% below Q2 2026 ($979,540). Condo and townhome prices have been mostly flat for the past year, in a range of roughly $910,000 to $1,015,000 a month.
Compare that with detached houses in Orange County, which averaged $2,090,835 in Q3 2026, up 11.2% from a year ago. Houses gained ground. Condos and townhomes held their ground.
As with any average, this describes the mix of units that sold, not what any one unit is worth. A two-bedroom condo and a three-bedroom townhome with a garage sit in very different price ranges. Your number comes from sales in your own complex and the ones near it.
How fast are Orange County condos and townhomes selling?
Condos and townhomes averaged 41 days active in MLS in Q3 2026, compared with 38 days in Q3 2025 and 35 days in Q2 2026. That’s slower than detached houses in Orange County (33 days), but faster than attached homes across the broader CRMLS region (48 days).
September was the slowest month of the quarter at 43 days. Last year, the pace kept slowing through the winter: 47 days in December 2025 and 54 days in January 2026, the slowest month in the data.
Are condo sellers getting their asking price?
Close to it. Sellers received 97.1% of their original asking price on average, about the same as a year ago (97.0%). That measure compares the final sale price to the first price the home was listed at, so it includes both negotiation and price cuts.
Two things stand out:
- The gap widened as the quarter went on. 97.3% in July, 97.2% in August, 96.8% in September. In Q2 2026 it was 97.9%.
- On an average-priced unit, the gap is real money. At $953,992, a 2.9% gap between original price and sale price works out to roughly $27,600. That’s an illustration using the averages, not a figure for any specific home.
Is the Orange County condo market a buyer’s market?
It’s leaning that way. The Q3 numbers show a market where buyers have more time and more room than a year ago:
- Sales fell faster than listings. Closings dropped 6.3% while new listings dropped only 2.6%.
- Fewer listings are finding buyers. Orange County closed about 68 condos and townhomes for every 100 new listings in Q3 2026, down from about 71 a year earlier. For detached houses the figure was about 80.
- Homes are taking longer. 41 days on average, up from 38.
What keeps it from being a clear buyer’s market: prices held, and sellers who priced right still got close to their asking price.
What does this mean if you’re selling a condo or townhome?
1. Price for the market you’re in, not last spring’s. Q2 2026 averaged 35 days and 97.9% of original price. Q3 was slower and gave up more. Price off the last 90 days of sales, not the spring peak.
2. Plan for six weeks or more. At 41 days on average, and 43 in September, build your timeline around six to eight weeks from listing to an accepted offer.
3. Don’t drift into winter. Last December and January, condos and townhomes averaged 47 and 54 days and sold for 96.4% of their original price. If you’re ready, list sooner rather than later.
4. Have your HOA documents ready before you list. In a slower market, buyers take their time with HOA review. Having the paperwork in hand keeps a deal from stalling.
What does this mean if you’re buying a condo or townhome?
1. You have room to negotiate. At 97.1% of original price, with September at 96.8%, there’s room on price, credits, and terms, especially on units past the 41-day average.
2. Watch the units that have been sitting. A condo past 41 days, or one that has already cut its price, is where sellers are most open to a conversation.
3. Read the HOA documents closely. Dues, reserves, and rules affect your monthly cost and your resale. More negotiating room doesn’t mean skipping that review.
4. Don’t expect a price drop to do the work for you. Prices held year over year. Your advantage is time and negotiating room, not a falling market.
Common mistakes in this market
- Treating a condo like a house. Detached homes in Orange County sold in 33 days. Condos took 41. Each needs its own pricing and its own timeline.
- Pricing off a neighbor’s spring sale. The market slowed between Q2 and Q3.
- Buyers offering far under on every unit. 97.1% means most condos still sell close to their original price. Save the strong negotiating for units that have been sitting.
- Comparing Orange County to the whole region. Orange County condos averaged 41 days and $953,992. Across CRMLS, attached homes averaged 48 days and about $805,000. Regional headlines can point you the wrong way.
FAQ
What was the average condo price in Orange County in Q3 2026?
$953,992 for attached homes (condos, townhomes, and attached single-family), up 1.3% from $941,942 in Q3 2025 (CRMLS).
How many condos and townhomes sold in Orange County in Q3 2026?
1,841 closed sales from July through September 2026, down 6.3% from 1,965 in Q3 2025.
How long does it take to sell a condo in Orange County?
Condos and townhomes averaged 41 days active in MLS in Q3 2026. September was slower at 43 days.
Do Orange County condos sell for asking price?
On average, sellers received 97.1% of their original list price in Q3 2026, and 96.8% in September.
Are condos a better deal than houses in Orange County right now?
Condo and townhome prices rose 1.3% year over year, compared with 11.2% for detached houses, and condo buyers have more negotiating room. Whether a condo fits you depends on your budget, your plans, and the HOA.
What is my Orange County condo worth?
County averages are a starting point, not your price. Get a complimentary market evaluation for your home.
Who can help me buy or sell a condo or townhome in Orange County?
Christine Almarines is a top real estate agent in Buena Park and Cerritos helping homeowners sell in Orange County and Los Angeles County, licensed since 2004. Selling? Start with the Sure Seller course. Buying? Start the Buyer Bootcamp. Want to talk it through? Book a consultation.
Related reading
- Q3 2026 Orange County single-family detached report
- Complimentary Market Evaluation
- Sure Seller Course
- Buyer Bootcamp Course
Source: All data is from the California Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. InfoSparks © 2026 ShowingTime Plus, LLC. Attached homes (single-family, condominium, and townhouse), Orange County, data as of October 3, 2026. Quarterly figures calculated from monthly data as described above.
