Published November 5, 2026 in Market Update

More homes are moving in Irvine - Central and North, even with rates above 7%

By Jason & Susan Zwolak

Real estate, Irvine

Rates are sitting at 7.3%, according to CNBC on November 5, 2026. That is a real headwind. But the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted 457 pending sales across Irvine - Central and North in the three months ending August 31, 2026. That is up 2.7% from the same months a year before. Buyers are still out there.

More homes sold and more went under contract, even as rates stayed high. That tells you demand did not dry up. It just got more selective. Sellers who priced well still found buyers.

Rates are the backdrop for everything right now

CNBC reported the average 30-year fixed rate at 7.3% on November 5, 2026. Redfin reported it at 7.24% for the four weeks ending November 1, 2026. Either way, borrowing costs are high. That matters because it shapes what buyers can afford and how long they are willing to wait.

Even so, the Real Estate Data Aggregator shows sales across Irvine - Central and North rose 3.9% year over year. Buyers adapted. Some stretched. Some found the right price. The market did not stop.

Each ZIP code tells a different story

The overall numbers look steady. But inside each ZIP code, things moved differently. Some areas picked up speed. Others slowed. Here is what the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted for the three months ending August 31, 2026.

92606 stood out this period

In 92606, the Real Estate Data Aggregator counted homes selling at exactly 100% of list price on average. That is up 1.1 points from a year before. Homes sold rose 47.1% year over year, and the median sale price climbed 14.1% to $1,460,000. Supply sat at just 3.8 months, the tightest of any ZIP in this market.

Not every ZIP moved that way. In 92604, homes sold fell 27.3% and the median price dipped 1.4% to $1,380,000. Days on market stretched to 57, which is 13 days longer than a year before. Fewer homes sold, and it took longer to get there. That is a real difference, and it matters if you are pricing a home in that area.

Quick contracts: more homes are going fast

One number stood out across several ZIP codes. The share of homes going under contract within two weeks of listing rose in most areas. That tells you some buyers are moving quickly when the right home shows up.

In 92604, 34.9% of homes went under contract within two weeks, up 8.8 points year over year. In 92614, 33.3% did the same, up 9.3 points. Even in a slower market, the right home at the right price still moved quickly.

Prices dipped in most ZIP codes

Most ZIP codes saw median prices ease from a year ago. That is worth knowing if you are setting a list price or making an offer.

92602 had the steepest price dip, down 13% to $2,180,000. But it also saw 14% more homes sold year over year. Lower prices brought more buyers in. In 92606, the opposite happened: prices rose 14.1% and volume jumped 47.1%. Two ZIP codes, two very different stories.

Supply stayed in a narrow range

Months of supply measures how long it would take to sell every home currently listed, at the current pace of sales. Across Irvine - Central and North, it ranged from 3.8 months in 92606 to 5.8 months in 92618. That is a balanced-to-slightly-soft range. Neither extreme favors buyers or sellers by a wide margin.

What this means for you

The overall market in Irvine - Central and North held up in the three months ending August 31, 2026. More homes sold. More went under contract. New listings rose 5.1%. Buyers are still making decisions, even with rates at 7.3%.

But the ZIP codes do not move in lockstep. 92606 and 92620 gained momentum. 92604 and 92614 saw fewer sales. Prices eased in most areas. If you are thinking about timing a sale or an offer, the ZIP code you are in matters a lot more than the market average.