The short answer
Orange County single-family homes sold for an average of $2,090,835 in the third quarter of 2026 (July through September), up 11.2% from $1,880,358 in Q3 2025. Homes spent an average of 33 days active in MLS, and sellers received 97.9% of their original asking price on average. Fewer homes sold than a year ago (3,174 closings, down 3.0%), and fewer new listings came on the market (3,972, down 4.7%).
Scope note: This report covers single-family detached homes in Orange County only. Condos and townhomes move differently and have their own Q3 report.
Put simply: prices held strong, homes still sold in about a month, and buyers had a little room to negotiate, more in September than in July.
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 numbers say and what they don’t.
What are the Q3 2026 numbers for Orange County single-family homes?
All figures are single-family detached homes in Orange County, from the California Regional Multiple Listing Service (CRMLS), pulled October 3, 2026.
| Measure | Q3 2026 | Q3 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average sale price | $2,090,835 | $1,880,358 | Up 11.2% |
| Closed sales | 3,174 | 3,271 | Down 3.0% |
| New listings | 3,972 | 4,170 | Down 4.7% |
| Average days active in MLS | 33 | 34 | About 1 day faster |
| Percent of original price received | 97.9% | 97.3% | Up 0.6 points |
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, so a busy month counts more than a slow one.
Month by month inside Q3 2026
| Month | Average sale price | Closed sales | New listings | Avg days active | % of original price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | $2,130,176 | 1,130 | 1,540 | 32 | 98.2% |
| August 2026 | $2,069,993 | 1,034 | 1,314 | 32 | 97.9% |
| September 2026 | $2,068,157 | 1,010 | 1,118 | 35 | 97.5% |
Are Orange County home prices still going up?
The average sale price says yes. At $2,090,835, Q3 2026 came in 11.2% above Q3 2025 and about 2% above Q2 2026 ($2,047,909).
One caution before anyone takes that 11.2% to the bank: an average sale price describes the mix of homes that sold, not what every home gained. If more high-end homes close in one quarter than the same quarter last year, the average rises even if a typical three-bedroom in your neighborhood didn’t move much. The average tells you the county’s market is strong. It does not tell you what your house is worth. That takes your street, your condition, and your recent sales.
How fast are Orange County homes selling?
Orange County single-family homes averaged 33 days active in MLS in Q3 2026, about a day faster than Q3 2025 (34 days). That’s also faster than the broader CRMLS region, where single-family homes averaged 39 days in the same quarter.
The pace slowed inside the quarter. July and August both averaged 32 days. September averaged 35. Spring was faster: Q2 2026 averaged 27 days. This is the normal seasonal pattern, and last year looked the same (32 days in July 2025, 36 in September 2025). Homes don’t stop selling in the fall. They take a little longer.
Are sellers still getting their asking price in Orange County?
Close to it. Sellers received 97.9% of their original asking price on average in Q3 2026, a little better than 97.3% in Q3 2025.
“Original price” matters here. This measure compares the final sale price to the first price the home was listed at, before any price reductions. So it captures both negotiation and price cuts.
Two things stand out:
- The gap widened as the quarter went on. 98.2% in July, 97.9% in August, 97.5% in September. In Q2 2026 it was 99.1%. Buyers had more room to negotiate by the end of the summer than at the start.
- On an average-priced home, the gap is real money. At $2,090,835, a 2.1% gap between original price and sale price works out to roughly $44,000. That’s an illustration using the averages, not a figure for any specific home, but it shows why the first price you list at matters.
Is Orange County a buyer’s market or a seller’s market right now?
Neither, cleanly. Q3 2026 looks like a balanced market leaning slightly toward sellers on price and slightly toward buyers on negotiating room.
Here’s why:
- Supply is tight. New listings fell 4.7% from a year ago. September had the fewest new listings of the quarter (1,118).
- Demand kept pace with supply. Orange County closed about 80 homes for every 100 new listings in Q3 2026, compared with about 78 a year earlier. Homes are not piling up.
- Buyers have a little more room. Days active ticked up in September and the percent of original price received slipped. A buyer in late September had more room than a buyer in July.
What does this mean if you’re selling?
1. Price right the first time. The percent of original price received is the clearest message in this report. Homes priced right from day one sold close to asking. Homes that needed a reduction pulled that 97.9% average down.
2. Plan for about a month, not a week. At 33 average days active, and 35 in September, build your move timeline around four to six weeks from going live to an accepted offer, and longer if the home needs work.
3. Don’t price off the county average. $2,090,835 covers everything from inland tract homes to coastal estates. Your number comes from your own recent comparable sales.
4. Use the fall’s low supply. With September new listings at the lowest point of the quarter, a well-prepared home that lists in the fall faces less competition than it would in spring.
What does this mean if you’re buying?
1. Expect some room to negotiate, not a discount. A 97.9% average means most homes still sell close to their original price. Plan on negotiating terms and a modest amount on price, not a 10% cut.
2. Watch homes that have been on the market past 30 days. With 33 days as the average, a home sitting well beyond that is where sellers are often most open to a conversation.
3. Get fully underwritten before you tour. Fall gives you a little more time than spring, not unlimited time. A full approval lets you move when the right house shows up.
4. Don’t wait for prices to drop. The average price rose year over year and supply is shrinking. Nothing in Q3 2026 points to a price correction.
Common mistakes in this market
- Reading the 11.2% price jump as a raise for every home. It reflects the mix of what sold.
- Pricing high “to leave room.” The percent-of-original-price data shows that strategy usually costs sellers money in the end.
- Assuming fall means bargains. Buyers gained some negotiating room, not a buyer’s market.
- Comparing Orange County to the whole region. Orange County homes averaged 33 days active against 39 across CRMLS. Regional headlines can point you the wrong way.
FAQ
What was the average home price in Orange County in Q3 2026?
$2,090,835 for single-family detached homes, up 11.2% from $1,880,358 in Q3 2025 (CRMLS).
How many single-family homes sold in Orange County in Q3 2026?
3,174 closed sales from July through September 2026, down 3.0% from 3,271 in Q3 2025.
How long does it take to sell a house in Orange County?
Single-family homes averaged 33 days active in MLS in Q3 2026. September was slower at 35 days.
Do Orange County homes sell for asking price?
On average, sellers received 97.9% of their original list price in Q3 2026. That’s close to asking but not at it, and the gap widened from July to September.
Does this report include condos and townhomes?
No. This covers single-family detached homes only. Condos and townhomes have their own Q3 2026 report.
What is my Orange County home 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 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
Source: All data is from the California Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. InfoSparks © 2026 ShowingTime Plus, LLC. Single-family detached, Orange County, data as of October 3, 2026. Quarterly figures calculated from monthly data as described above.
Christine Almarines
Real Estate Agent | CA Real Estate Group | Caliber Real Estate
📱 714-476-4637
📧 christine@carealestategroup.com
DRE #01412944
Christine Almarines is a top real estate agent in Buena Park and Cerritos helping homeowners sell in Orange County and Los Angeles County.