Although the kids are back in school, it still feels like summer here in Dana Point! We’ve been blessed with incredible weather all season long. I still remember one summer when the sun never came out—just marine layer and cold. This year has been the opposite!
One
of our highlights was snorkeling in Laguna and taking advantage of the warmer
ocean temps. We saw so much sea life! My favorite? The baby leopard sharks
cruising around—so cool.
I
hope your summer has been filled with fun and good memories, too!
What’s Up with Rates?
Good
news—interest rates are finally creeping down, with some mortgage rates
hovering around 6% today. That’s a big improvement from six months ago!
Once
we see a more significant drop, the real estate market could take off like a
rocket. Buyers have been sitting on the sidelines while inventory has been
slowly building. When confidence returns, it could feel like a tsunami of
activity!
Quick
note: The Fed rate impacts mortgage rates, but not directly.
Home Prices?
For
now, prices seem to be leveling off. No major gains lately, mainly because of
two factors:
✔ Inventory is up
✔ Buyers are
cautious with rates still higher than they’d like
Affordability
remains a challenge, even as rates ease a bit.
Buy Before You Sell!
Think
you need to sell your current home before buying your next one? Think
again!
This
unique market has sparked some great “bridge loan” programs that allow you to
buy first by tapping the equity in your current home—even before you sell it.
In
some cases, the lender even guarantees to buy your current home if it doesn’t
sell quickly (using your agent, of course!). Most programs also don’t count
your current mortgage payment against you when qualifying for the new loan.
Huge advantage!
2-1 Buydowns
This
is one of my favorite strategies right now. A 2-1 buydown allows the
seller to pay to temporarily reduce your interest rate, making the payment more
affordable upfront:
- Year 1: 2% below the current market rate
- Year 2: 1% below market
- Year 3+: Back to the original rate
And
here’s the best part: if you refinance early, you get back the unused portion
of the buydown funds!
Why
would a seller pay for this? Because they want to sell—and often, the cost
can be built right into the purchase price.
Market Snapshot: Orange County Real Estate
Here’s a quick look at what’s happening right now in our local market:
- Median Sales Price: Homes in Orange County sold for around $1.19 million in July 2025, up about 1.1% year-over-year.Redfin
- Days on Market: Homes are spending longer on the market—about 53 days, up from 31 days last year.Redfin
- Average Home Value & Time to Pending: Zillow reports an average home value of $1,171,609, up 2.1% year-over-year, with homes going pending in roughly 20 days.Zillow
- Inventory & Competition: With inventory slowly climbing and mortgage rates easing, the market is showing signs of steadiness and renewed buyer interest.
In short: prices are holding steady or inching up, but homes are staying on the market longer—making it a balanced market with opportunity for both sellers and buyers.
Let’s Chat—Here’s What You Can Do Next
Whether
you're planning to sell, buy, or just want to understand how these trends
affect your home goals, let’s talk one-on-one. I’d love to offer a
complimentary Strategy Session tailored to your situation—no strings
attached.
Ready?
Here's your next step:
- Reply to this email or call/text me at 714-290-6940
- Let me know if you’d like to:
- Review how these trends
may impact your home’s value
- Explore bridge loan and
2-1 buydown options
- Discuss timing your
next move in today’s market
Thanks
for reading—I always enjoy keeping you in the loop. When the market shifts,
you’ll be ready to ride the wave!
