When Is the Best Time to Buy or Sell a Home in Orange County?
Source: CRMLS (Entire California CRMLS). Average price per sf all residential past 4 years.
What the Data Shows
December is the best month to buy. It's not close.
Every single year in the dataset, December recorded the annual low price per square foot:
December 2022: ~$529/sq ft
December 2023: ~$563/sq ft
December 2024: ~$581/sq ft
December 2025: ~$584/sq ft
November typically runs a close second.
On the sell side, the spring market — March through May — consistently produces the highest prices, with averages ranging from roughly $622 to $652 per square foot. That's a seasonal swing of $60 to $70 per square foot between the December trough and the spring peak. On a percentage basis, that's approximately 10 to 11 percent.
On a 1,500 square foot home, that swing is $90,000 to $105,000.
Why December Works for Buyers
Three things converge in late fall and winter that don't happen at other times of year.
Less competition. The spring market brings multiple offers and waived contingencies. November and December are quieter, and that quieter market gives buyers room to negotiate.
More motivated sellers. Anyone still listed in December has usually been on the market for a while. Expectations have adjusted. They don't want to carry the property through the holidays and into a new year.
More days on market. Longer market times translate to more price reductions and more willingness to negotiate on repairs, credits, or terms.
A Note on Price Per Square Foot
Price per square foot is useful as a directional indicator, but it's not the complete picture. The mix of properties selling in winter tends to skew smaller and more modest than the spring luxury market — which can make December look softer than it actually is for any individual property.
That's especially true in south Orange County, where markets like Laguna Beach, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, and San Clemente carry higher price points year-round and attract a different buyer pool. The seasonal swing in those markets may be less pronounced than the countywide average suggests.
What This Means in Practice
If you're a buyer: late October through December is historically the most favorable window. You won't have the widest selection, but the properties available are more likely to be priced realistically, with sellers who are ready to deal.
If you're a seller: March through May remains the strongest window to list in Orange County. That's when buyer activity peaks and pricing follows.
If you're navigating an estate sale, divorce, or any situation where timing is constrained: the market will do what it does. What matters more than timing is having an accurate, defensible appraisal going in. The seasonal data is useful context — it doesn't override the fundamentals of the individual property.
Data sourced from CRMLS. Average price per square foot, all residential, Orange County, 2022–2025. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed. This is market context, not a substitute for a property-specific appraisal.
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