Market Report: The South Orange County Housing Numbers–October 2009
Note: The Altos Market Action Index shows the balance between potential buyers and sellers, in other words, the balance between supply and demand. Above 30 is a sellers’ market; below 30 is a buyers’ market.
Also, these Altos Research numbers are for detached houses only (condos are not included). For this reason, I have included numbers that show the percentage of hones in each city that are detached houses. The Redfin numbers are for both houses and condos.
To see additional information from Redfin including which homes are currently on the market as well as what homes have sold for recently, click on the Redfin link. To see additional Altos Research numbers for each city, click on the Altos Research link.
Summary: When comparing the North, Central and South Orange County housing markets, North Orange County is in the best shape, next is Central Orange County, and last is South Orange County. As is true for the North and Central areas, the low-end of the South Orange County market is in better shape than the high-end.
The housing difficulties started with the low-end of the Orange County housing market and worked their way up to the high-end of the market. Likewise, when this downturn first started, the housing difficulties were more prevalent in North Orange County (an area that is generally less expensive than Central or South Orange County), and then reached Central Orange County and is currently having the biggest impact on South Orange County.
High-end Laguna Beach, the only South Orange County city that saw a decrease in the Altos index number, went deeper into a buyers’ market. And according to the Altos index numbers, the more affordably priced Aliso Viejo has the strongest housing market in South Orange County. For more on the Aliso Viejo housing market, see Jon Lansner’s post “Hardest O.C. city to find a home? Aliso Viejo!”
However, according to the Altos index numbers, all South Orange County housing markets are buyers’ markets. The bottom line is that no level or area of the Orange County housing market is being spared during this downturn.
Following are some recent Altos Research and Redfin numbers for the South Orange County housing market:
Aliso Viejo: approximate % homes on market that are detached–25%
- Altos Research Market Action Index:
October 18, 2009: 22.68
September 20, 2009: 20.37
July 19, 2009: 18.09 - Altos median list price for detached houses:
October 18, 2009: $595,254 - Redfin median sold price:
September 2009: house–$244/SF; condo–$186/SF
Coto De Caza: approximate % homes on market that are detached–85%
- Altos Research Market Action Index:
n/a
- Altos median list price for detached houses:
n/a - Redfin median sold price:
n/a
Dana Point: approximate % homes on market that are detached–70%
- Altos Research Market Action Index:
October 18, 2009: 14.75
September 20, 2009: 14.32
July 19, 2009: 15.68 - Altos median list price:
October 18, 2009: $1,053,46 - Redfin median sold price:
September 2009: house–$264/SF; condo–$493/SF
Ladera Ranch: approximate % homes on market that are detached–70%
- Altos Research Market Action Index:
October 18, 2009: 19.40
September 20, 2009: 17.38
July 19, 2009: 6.20 - Altos median list price for detached houses:
October 18, 2009: $834,077 - Redfin median sold price
September 2009: house–n/a
Laguna Beach: approximate % homes on market that are detached–80%
- Altos Research Market Action Index:
October 18, 2009: 13.39
September 20, 2009: 13.69
July 19, 2009: 11.84 - Altos median list price for detached houses:
October 18, 2009: $2,281,775 - Redfin median sold price
September 2009: house--$1646/SF; condo–$374/SF
Laguna Hills: approximate % homes on market that are detached–50%
- Altos Research Market Action Index:
October 18, 2009: 18.69
September 20, 2009: 16.27
July 19, 2009: 13.26 - Altos median list price for detached houses:
October 18, 2009: $850,712 - Redfin median sold price:
September 2009: house–$405/SF; condo–$142/SF
Laguna Niguel: approximate % homes on market that are detached–60%
- Altos Research Market Action Index:
October 18, 2009: 18.26
September 20, 2009: 16.69
July 19, 2009: 15.23 - Altos median list price for detached houses:
October 18, 2009: $791,188 - Redfin median sold price
September 2009: house–$304/SF; condo–$239/SF
Laguna Woods: approximate % homes on market that are detached–5%
- Altos Research Market Action Index:
October 18, 2009: 6.48
September 20, 2009: 3.04
July 19, 2009: 6.07 - Altos median list price for detached houses:
October 18, 2009: $260,054 - Redfin median sold price:
September 2009: house–$244/SF; condo–$153/SF
Note: Laguna Wood is a 55+ community. HOA fees are usually at least $600; many are substantially higher than this.
Lake Forest: approximate % homes on market that are detached–60%
- Altos Research Market Action Index:
October 18, 2009: 19.40
September 20, 2009: 16.95
July 19, 2009: 17.37 - Altos median list price for detached houses:
October 18, 2009: $515,250 - Redfin median sold price
September 2009: house–$276/SF; condo–$254/SF
Mission Viejo: approximate % homes on market that are detached–70%
- Altos Research Market Action Index:
October 18, 2009: 21.04
September 20, 2009: 18.69
July 19, 2009: 16.23 - Altos median list price for detached houses:
October 18, 2009: $539,279 - Redfin median sold price:
September 2009: house–$302/SF; condo–$252/SF
Rancho Santa Margarita: approximate % homes on market that are detached–55%
- Altos Research Market Action Index:
October 18, 2009: 18.83
September 20, 2009: 16.45
July 19, 2009: 16.64 - Altos median list price for detached houses:
October 18, 2009: $546,546 - Redfin median sold price:
September 2009: house–$299/SF; condo–$279/SF
San Clemente: approximate % homes on market that are detached–75%
- Altos Research Market Action Index:
October 18, 2009: 16.07
September 20, 2009: 14.95
July 19, 2009: 12.67 - Altos median list price for detached houses:
October 18, 2009: $869,131 - Redfin median sold price
September 2009: house–$222/SF; condo–$345/SF
Note: The price per square foot for a San Clemente house is down 40% from the previous month; the condo price is down only 1%.
San Juan Capistrano: approximate % homes on market that are detached–65%
- Altos Research Market Action Index:
October 18, 2009: 15.03
September 20, 2009: 13.24
July 19, 2009: 10.86 - Altos median list price for detached houses:
October 18, 2009: $1,021,748 - Redfin median sold price:
September 2009: house–$289/SF; condo–$124/SF
Note: The Altos Market Action Index shows the balance between potential buyers and sellers, in other words, the balance between supply and demand. Above 30 is a sellers’ market; below 30 is a buyers’ market.
Following are some recent housing numbers, including the foreclosure numbers, for Costa Mesa that are broken down by ZIP code. These numbers, provided by 
Altos Research Index–27.83
approximate % homes on market that are detached–79%