What’s Driving the Housing Surge in North Orange County This Fall?

By Philip Kang

Philip Kang is the visionary team leader of the HomeReady Team, based in Orange County, California. Since founding the team, Philip has driven rapid growth year after year, with the team on track to close over $150 million in real estate volume in 2025.

If you’ve been watching the news, you might assume the fall housing market is slowing down. But here in North Orange County, it’s a different story. Activity has picked up faster than expected, and both buyers and sellers are making moves as we head into the end of the year.

Homes sold and buyer activity. Over the past month, sold homes increased in nearly every major North OC city. Fullerton, Brea, and Yorba Linda all recorded more closed sales from September to October, which is unusual for this time of year. Even as we approach the holidays, buyers are still active, and well-presented homes are drawing attention.

Inventory and home condition. One major driver is limited inventory. Buyers, especially younger ones, are looking for turnkey homes, and there aren’t many available. When a clean, updated home hits the market, it often attracts multiple offers simply because the supply of move-in-ready properties is so low.

What it means for homebuyers. We’re also seeing more buyers who want to get into a contract before the year ends. Some are completing 1031 exchanges. Others were traveling during the summer and missed that window. And some want to secure a home now before interest rates fall next year and competition increases. Many buyers believe 2026 will bring lower rates, and they want to avoid the rush that comes with that.

What it means for home sellers. On the seller side, there’s not much to worry about. Demand hasn’t disappeared. Our team alone has 22 pending deals in November, which is unusually high for this season and close to what we’d expect in a spring market.

Here’s a quick look at what sold from September to October:

• Fullerton: 60 to 83 closed sales
• Brea: 21 to 24 closed sales
• Yorba Linda: 59 to 68 closed sales
• Buena Park: The only city showing a slight dip, but overall activity remains steady

Grants and programs. Another major factor driving this fall surge is the rise of grant programs and down payment assistance options. Many banks and cities, including programs from Citi National Bank, HSBC, Anaheim, Ontario, and others, are offering incentives that allow buyers to buy down their rate, cover closing costs, or receive grants they don’t have to pay back.

These programs are boosting listing traffic as well. When a listing offers a $20,000 credit or a special community reward program, buyers call. They’re asking questions. They’re scheduling showings. And they’re writing offers.

For many buyers, these incentives create a clear path to homeownership without waiting for interest rates to drop. That’s why understanding these programs is so important; each one has different requirements, income guidelines, and benefits.

To help buyers sort through everything available, we’re hosting a Buyer Programs Workshop. This is a one-hour-long workshop happening on November 22 at 10 a.m. It will be held live on Zoom, and you don’t need to turn your camera on or even use your real name if you prefer privacy.

You can register at CaliforniaGrantPrograms.com, which will take you directly to the Zoom sign-up page.

Before you lock into a long-term loan or consider options like 50-year mortgages, it’s worth learning what’s available. You may qualify for something better than you expect.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling in North Orange County, this is still a solid time to make a move. And if you’re a buyer, these incentives could make your next step easier than you think.

For sellers, call (714) 805-8207, and for buyers, call (714) 709-2939. I’ll help you plan the right move for your goals.

Reach out today and let’s talk strategy. You can reach out to Caroline Lee at (213) 505-5141 or caroline@homereadyteam.com. You can also call or send me a message at (714) 451-4543 or phil@homereadyteam.com. We’ll help you find the best move for you.