OC Housing Report

Unprecedented Start

January 11, 2022

Even with a rising mortgage interest rate environment, it is the hottest start to a year since tracking began in 2004 by a landslide.

Insanely Hot Seller’s Market

With a ridiculously record low supply of homes available to purchase matched with strong demand, the housing market is white hot.

 

As the inventory dropped, housing has grown hotter and hotter. Today, there are only 1,100 homes available to purchase, an unmatched, ultra-low supply of homes that shattered the prior record low achieved in January 2021, at 2,633 homes. Last year’s start crushed the 2013 record start of 3,161 homes. The active inventory had been dropping prior to COVID, but the pandemic further disrupted housing and intensified the inventory crisis. The crisis had evolved into a catastrophe by the end of 2021 as the fewest number of homes come on the market in December and the second fewest occurs in November. That set up the unprecedented start to this year.

When the inventory is this low, just about everything that is placed on the market is thrown into escrow after being exposed to the marketplace for less than a week. As a result, the Expected Market Time (the time between hammering in the FOR-SALE sign to opening escrow) started this year at 25 days, shattering last year’s record 42-day start. At 42 days, Orange County housing is a Hot Seller’s Market (less than 60 days). At 25 days, it is an Insane Seller’s Market (less than 40 days) where buyers trip over each other to see every home that enters the fray, sellers call the shots, multiple offers and bidding wars are the norm, and home values are skyrocketing. As the market time reaches lower and lower levels, falling further below the 40 day “insanity” mark, there are more showing, more multiple offers, and higher sales prices.

About the Author

Tim Morissette, also known in the community as Mr. Foothill Ranch, offers over 45 years of real estate experience which has given him an established reputation and unmatched market knowledge. He is joined by his wife, Michele and sons Matt and Jeff, as they continue to offer personal service with an emphasis on achieving his clients’ real estate goals.  This unique combination of traits has led to his proven track record of referral and repeat business. This can be witnessed by the trust of homeowners in Foothill Ranch where he has sold twice as many homes and represented three times more buyers than the next-leading real estate agent for the last 25 years.

As residents of Foothill Ranch since 1994, Tim and Michele are actively involved in the community by fundraising for Foothill Ranch Library, Make-a-Wish Foundation, Cancer Society, Homes for Habitat, Relay for Life, South County Outreach, and the local church and schools. Tim enjoys sponsoring community-wide garage sales, as well as sponsoring Paper Shredding and E-Waste Recycling events twice a year, a Meet Santa Event & a Movie Night.

Tim and Michele are dedicated to their family of four sons, daughter-in-laws, and grandchildren. As a family, they enjoy many outdoor activities which include camping, spearfishing, mountain climbing and exploring the miles of hiking and equestrian trails in Foothill Ranch and the Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park. Tim and his sons are also avid snowboarders and enjoy mountain biking and lobster diving. Family is a top priority in the Morissette household. They look forward to helping more families achieve their dreams of homeownership.