Published October 11, 2026 in Market Update

Laguna Beach moved faster even with mortgage rates above 7%

By Jason & Susan Zwolak

Real estate, Laguna Beach

I've been watching the Laguna Beach numbers closely, and one thing stood out this fall. CNBC reported the average 30-year mortgage rate hit 7.49% as of October 7, 2026. That's the kind of number that makes a lot of people pause. But the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 103 pending sales in ZIP 92651 for the three months ending August 31, 2026. That's up 9.6% from the same months a year before. Serious buyers are still moving.

Homes are going under contract faster

The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows that 22.3% of Laguna Beach homes went under contract within two weeks of listing in the three months ending August 31, 2026. That share is up 12.7 points from a year before. Nearly 1 in 4 homes didn't sit long at all. At the same time, the median days on market dropped 30 days shorter than the same period in 2025, landing at 69 days. Not every home sold fast, but the trend is clear.

Prices climbed while supply shrank

The Real Estate Data Aggregator put the median sale price in ZIP 92651 at $3,375,000 for the three months ending August 31, 2026. That's up 14% from the same months in 2025. Meanwhile, homes for sale fell to 163, down 22% year over year. Fewer choices for buyers, and prices moved up because of it. The Federal Housing Finance Agency reported U.S. house prices rose 2.6% from July 2025 to July 2026. Laguna Beach outpaced that by a wide margin.

What sellers are getting at the closing table

The Real Estate Data Aggregator shows the average sale-to-list ratio in ZIP 92651 was 95.9% for the three months ending August 31, 2026, up 1.1 points from a year before. Most homes didn't sell above asking. About 9.6% did, up just 0.2 points year over year. So sellers are getting close to their number, but big over-list bidding wars aren't the story here. Pricing right still matters.

New listings picked up, but supply is still tight

The Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 124 new listings in ZIP 92651 for the three months ending August 31, 2026, up 19.2% from a year before. More sellers came to market. But months of supply still sat at just 5.3 months, down 2.2 months from the same period in 2025. And the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 94 homes sold, up 10.6% year over year. Supply is growing a little, but demand kept pace.

Nationally, CNBC reported that mortgage purchase applications were 15% lower than the same week a year ago as of October 7, 2026. That tells you some buyers stepped back. But Laguna Beach pending sales still rose. The buyers who stayed in the market here are committed.

One thing I always want you to know: the ZIP code numbers tell one story, but your street can read differently. A few blocks can change everything about timing and price. If you want to know what the numbers look like closer to home, just reach out.