Costa Mesa Real Estate Update: Why Condos Are Slowing Down This Winter
This December, the Orange County housing market is showing a big change—especially for condos and townhomes. For a long time, condos were the popular “starter home” because they were more affordable and came with great amenities like pools, gyms, and community centers. But now, higher costs and rising HOA fees are making condos less attractive to many buyers, which is causing them to sell more slowly.
Right now, it takes much longer to sell a condo than a single-family home. Condos are averaging about 95 days on the market, while detached homes are selling in about 82 days. That’s almost two extra weeks. A big reason for this is that many condo communities have higher maintenance costs, stricter rules, and bigger required repairs, which lead to higher monthly HOA fees for owners.
Financing has also become trickier. Lenders are looking closely at the financial health of each condo community, not just the buyer. If an HOA doesn’t have enough savings or has ongoing issues, buyers may need different loan options or larger down payments. This makes some condos harder to sell, which adds to the slowdown.
Even with this shift, the Costa Mesa housing market still has plenty of opportunities. Inventory across Orange County has dropped for the winter season, and single-family homes continue to move at a steady pace. For buyers, especially those considering a condo, this could mean more choices and room to negotiate. For sellers, it’s more important than ever to price your home correctly and prepare it well before listing. Costa Mesa remains a strong and desirable market—just with changing dynamics this season.
