Hot Markets >> Orange County, CA
Orange County Real Estate - Information for California Home Buyers
Are you thinking of buying real estate in Orange County, California? If so, you will find this resource helpful. We have gathered a broad range of information to help you decide if Orange County real estate is the right investment for you.
Basic Information on the OC
Orange County, California is a sprawling area of Southern California that includes more than 30 individual cities. Some of the best-known cities in this county include Irving, Newport Beach, Anaheim and Laguna Beach.
There are actually quite a few "Orange Counties" in the United States, as it is one of the most common county names in this country. But as you would imagine, the Orange County in California is the largest of them all, both in size and population.
Orange County Geography
Orange County encompasses nearly 800 square miles. Coast-wise, Orange County is in between San Diego County (to the southeast) and Los Angeles County (to the north / northwest). The OC enjoys 42 miles of California coastline. Along this coastline there are a total of nine beaches and three harbors, which is another factor that contributes to the popularity of Orange County real estate.
Orange County Schools and Colleges
Being such a large and populous county, there are many public and private school systems in Orange County. There are also 11 public colleges and 7 private colleges within the county. For a complete list of school districts and colleges in Orange County, visit this website.
Price of Real Estate in Orange County
This part of California is also one of the most active real estate markets in the United States, with so many people looking for their own slice of Southern California real estate. Due to the area's popularity and the subsequent property demands, real estate in Orange County, California is more expensive "pound for pound" than in many other parts of the country. But most people who live in Orange County attest that the housing costs are worthwhile, given the cherished SoCal lifestyle they enjoy.
At the time of this writing (July 07), the median price for a single-family resale home in Orange County was nearly $700,000. In July of 2007, the OC Register ran an article entitled "Home Price Hits Record" -- despite a drop in actual home sales. The article stated that:
"With nearly one-third fewer sales than a year ago -- and less than half the number than two years ago -- prices have been skewed slightly upward, several housing analysts said. The most likely cause is fewer starter homes selling as the market adjusts to tighter lending standards and fewer subprime loans for buyers with lower credit scores." -Source
More Info On OC Real Estate
For more information on Orange County real estate, I recommend a visit to www.FoustOnline.com. This is the website of a father-son team of real estate agents in OC, and they do a great job of providing information on various cities within Orange County.
Questions or Comments?
We hope you've enjoyed our guide to Orange County real estate and home buying. If there's anything missing from this resource page that you think others would find helpful, send an email to editor[at]homebuyinginstitute.com. Good luck with your Orange County home buying experience!
Related information: San Diego real estate.
