Santa Ana Market Update - January 2026

Supply Metrics

Demand Metrics

Pricing Metrics

Market Timing

Showing Activity

Challenges

• Slower market activity - New listings dropped 30.3% and pending sales fell 37.1%, indicating reduced market momentum.
• Longer time on market - Properties are taking 33.3% longer to sell (20 days vs. 15 previously).
• Less buyer interest - Showings per listing decreased 10.3%, meaning fewer buyers are viewing properties.
• More competition - Active inventory increased 4.2%, giving buyers more options.

Opportunities

• Prices still rising - Median price is up 1.9% to $818,990.
• Sales still closing - Closed sales increased 16.9%, showing transactions are happening.
• Strong pricing power - Sellers are receiving 100% of the asking price on average.
• Minimal price reductions - Only a 1.3% discount from original to final price.

Seller Strategy

• Price competitively from day one as buyers have more options.
• Expect about 3 showings before receiving an offer.
• Plan for about 20 days on market.
• Focus on condition and presentation to stand out among 175 active listings.

Opportunities

• More selection - 175 active listings, up 4.2% from the previous period.
• More time to decide - Properties are sitting 33.3% longer, which can improve negotiating leverage.
• Less competition - New listings are down 30.3% and pending sales are down 37.1%, suggesting reduced urgency.
• Reduced showing activity - 2.6 shows per listing suggests less competition per property.

Challenges

• Prices still rising - Median price is up 1.9% to $818,990.
• Limited negotiation room - Sellers are receiving 100% of the asking price on average.
• Limited inventory growth - 2.5 months supply remains below a balanced market.
• Still a seller’s market - With 20 days active in MLS on average, properties are still moving relatively quickly.

Buyer Strategy

• Do not expect major discounts; offers at full asking price are still common.
• You may have slightly more leverage than before, but conditions still favor sellers.
• Act within about 20 days of listing on homes that meet your criteria.
• With 2.5 months supply, move decisively when the right property appears.
• Focus on newly listed properties before demand concentrates.

This is a cooling seller’s market. The 30.3% drop in new listings suggests sellers are hesitant, while the 37.1% drop in pending sales points to buyer caution. However, with 2.5 months of inventory and prices still rising, the market remains seller-advantaged, but less intense than before.