Published October 4, 2026 in Market Update

Irvine sales rose even as fewer owners put homes on the market

By Jason & Susan Zwolak

Real estate, Irvine - Central and North

I was looking at the numbers for our area this week and something stood out. More homes are selling, but fewer owners are listing. That combination tells a clear story, and I want to share it with you.

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 426 homes sold across Irvine Central and North in the three months ending July 31, 2026. That is up 10.6% from the same three months in 2025. At the same time, new listings fell 8.2%, to 702. Buyers kept moving even though fewer choices came on the market.

Here is what that means if you own here. Fewer new listings means less competition for your home when you do decide to sell. The pool of choices buyers face is shrinking, down 14% to 665 homes for sale, according to the Real Estate Data Aggregator.

If you want to buy, the rise in sales tells you other buyers are still moving, even with Realtor.com reporting mortgage rates topped 7% in September 2026. Preparation matters more when inventory is tight.

How each ZIP code looked

The overall picture is steady, but each ZIP moved differently. Here is what the Real Estate Data Aggregator found for the three months ending July 31, 2026.

Prices dipped in most ZIPs, but not all

Prices fell in five of the six ZIP codes compared with a year ago. That is worth knowing if you are setting a list price. The Real Estate Data Aggregator put the median in 92602 at $2,137,500, down 14.4%. In 92618 the median was $1,545,000, down just 1.6%. In 92606, though, the median rose 13.7% to $1,460,000, the only ZIP to gain ground.

How fast are homes going under contract?

Speed varied a lot by ZIP. In 92604, the Real Estate Data Aggregator found that 36.6% of homes went under contract within two weeks of listing. In 92620 that share was 29.5%, up 15.1 points from a year before. In 92618 it was 19.5%. Not every home sold fast, but quick sales were common in some pockets.

Rates are real, but buyers are still moving

Realtor.com reported that mortgage rates topped 7% in September 2026. CNBC put the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.30% for conforming loans as of September 30, 2026. That is a real cost. Even so, the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 450 pending sales across Irvine Central and North in the three months ending July 31, 2026, up 1.1% from a year before. Buyers are adjusting, not stopping.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported that U.S. house prices rose 2.6% from July 2025 to July 2026. That is a national backdrop. Our local picture, ZIP by ZIP, is more mixed.

These are area-wide numbers. Your street, your floor plan, your condition can tell a very different story. I am happy to pull what actually sold near you and show you where your home sits in that picture. Reply here and let's talk.