The Irvine Housing Market: What Buyers and Sellers Should Know
By Brett Hickman, NMLS #2010859, DRE #01843823 · Numbers updated October 16, 2026
Market numbers
Irvine home sales, September 2026
In September 2026, 171 homes sold in Irvine. The median sold price was $1,445,000, 6% less than in September 2025. Half of them were on the market 38 days or less.
What the numbers say
- At September's pace, the 679 homes for sale would sell in about 4 months. That is close to a balanced market. Buyers have time to compare homes, and sellers still get fair offers.
- The middle home sold for about 3% under its last asking price, so buyers have room to negotiate.
- Homes are selling slower than a year ago: half sold within 38 days, against 29 days in September 2025.
- A condo or townhome sold for a median of $1,185,000, about 41% less than a house at $2,000,000.
- The median house sold for $2,000,000. Orange County's 2026 loan limit is $1,249,125, and a loan above it is a jumbo loan.
Based on information from California Regional MLS (CRMLS) as of October 16, 2026, homes listed in Irvine. Houses, condos and townhomes. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Irvine is built in planned villages, and condos and townhomes are a big share of what sells here, so check the column that matches what you want.
If you're buying
Two costs surprise Irvine buyers: HOA dues and Mello-Roos. Mello-Roos is a special tax many newer neighborhoods pay on top of the regular property tax. It shows up on the tax bill. Both count in the monthly payment a lender looks at.
Ask for both numbers before you write an offer. Two homes at the same price can have very different monthly costs.
If you're selling
Buyers here compare closely, often home to home in the same village. Price off recent sales of the same floor plan if you can. Days on market and sold price vs. asking tell you whether buyers are paying up or pushing back.
The loan side
Houses in Irvine often need a loan above Orange County's standard limit. That's a jumbo loan, with its own rules. Condos usually don't, but the lender reviews the HOA, so get its documents early.
Text me the homes you're looking at, with the HOA dues and Mello-Roos. I'll give you the full monthly cost, so you can pick the home that really fits.