Orange Real Estate Guide

Home values, neighborhoods, schools and down payment help in Orange, with market data through August 2026.

Orange in short: The typical home is worth about $1,126,000 as of August 2026, up 2.6% in a year, against about $1,179,000 across Orange County. About 222 homes are for sale. Homes that sell go under contract in about 15 days. Typical rent is about $3,120 a month. First-time buyers can combine county and state down payment programs.

The City of Orange is best known for Old Towne, one of the largest historic districts in California, with the Plaza at its center, antique shops, restaurants and Chapman University a few blocks away. Beyond Old Towne the city stretches east into Orange Park Acres and the foothills toward Santiago Canyon.

That range gives buyers real choice. Old Towne offers Craftsman bungalows and early 1900s homes, central Orange has mid-century tracts near the Outlets at Orange and the medical centers, and the eastern areas offer larger lots, horse properties and views.

Old Towne homes come with design review for exterior changes, so I walk buyers through what they can and cannot change before they commit. The city is one of the easiest places in the county to commute from, with four freeways meeting nearby.

Orange housing market, August 2026

Typical home value$1,126,000+2.6% in a year
Median asking price$1,193,000homes listed in August 2026
Typical rent$3,120/moZillow rent index
Days to go pending15 daysmedian
Homes for sale222active listings
Listings with a price cut25.0%share of listings

Home values in Orange are up 2.6% from a year ago and up 14.0% over three years. Homes that sell are going under contract in about 15 days. About 25.0% of listings have had a price cut, which tells you how much room there is to negotiate. For comparison, the typical home value across Orange County is $1,179,000. At the typical rent and value, the gross rental yield is about 3.3% a year before expenses.

Sources: Zillow Research (home value and rent indexes, inventory, days to pending, price cuts) and Realtor.com Research, data through August 2026. These are market-wide figures, not an appraisal of any one home. See the Orange County market report for the county trend.

What a typical Orange home costs to own

20% down

$7,417/month

  • Down payment$225,198
  • Principal and interest$5,963
  • Property tax$1,032
  • Insurance$422

Income to qualify: about $318,000 a year

10% down

$8,627/month

  • Down payment$112,599
  • Principal and interest$6,708
  • Property tax$1,032
  • Insurance$422
  • Mortgage insurance$464

Income to qualify: about $370,000 a year

Estimates on the typical home value of $1,126,000 at the 6.95% 30-year fixed average (2026-09-17), with property tax at 1.1% and insurance at 0.45% of value a year, and income at 28% of gross for housing. HOA dues and Mello-Roos are extra where they apply. Not a loan quote. Down payment programs below can cover part of the down payment. See 20 years of mortgage rates.

Neighborhoods in Orange

  • Old Towne OrangeHistoric district around the Plaza with Craftsman and Victorian-era homes.
  • Orange Park AcresSemi-rural area in east Orange with large lots and horse properties.
  • El ModenaEstablished neighborhood in east-central Orange with mid-century homes.
  • Serrano HeightsNewer hillside homes in the eastern part of the city.
  • Central OrangeMid-century tracts close to the medical centers and the Outlets at Orange.

Schools

Orange Unified School District serves most of the city. Always confirm the assigned school for a specific address with the district.

Getting around

The 55, the 57, the 22 and Interstate 5 all meet near the city, and the Orange Metrolink station is in Old Towne.

Down payment help for Orange buyers

Orange County Mortgage Assistance Program (MAP) Open

OC Housing and Community Development

A deferred second loan at 3% simple interest of up to $120,000 for low-income and $80,000 for moderate-income first-time buyers. The price must be at or below 85% of the county median sales price.

Orange County Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) Open

County of Orange, administered by National Homebuyers Fund

A federal income tax credit on part of the mortgage interest you pay, every year for the life of the loan. Income up to 115% of area median income, and it stacks with MAP and other programs.

CalHFA MyHome Assistance Program Open

California Housing Finance Agency

A deferred junior loan of up to 3% of the price toward the down payment or closing costs, paired with a CalHFA first mortgage. No monthly payment until you sell, refinance or pay off the loan.

See every program you may qualify for

Program terms from the official program pages, last checked September 2026. Income and price limits apply and funds can close without notice, so confirm current terms before you rely on them.

Orange ZIP codes at a glance

ZIPMedian asking pricePer sq ftHomes for saleMedian days on market
92865$1,059,000$6482251
92866$1,012,000$7041745
92867$1,449,000$6654049
92868$910,000$6262044
92869$1,075,000$6475240

Realtor.com Research listing data by ZIP code, August 2026. A ZIP code can cross city lines.

Orange real estate questions

How much does a home cost in Orange?

As of August 2026, the typical home value in Orange is about $1,126,000, up 2.6% from a year earlier, according to the Zillow Home Value Index. The median asking price for homes listed that month was about $1,193,000. Condos and townhomes usually sit below the typical value and larger detached homes above it.

What is the monthly payment on a typical home in Orange?

At the typical value of $1,126,000, with 10% down and a 6.95% 30-year fixed rate, the full monthly cost including property tax, insurance and mortgage insurance is about $8,627. Lenders would usually look for household income around $369,729. HOA dues and Mello-Roos are extra where they apply. This is an estimate, not a loan quote.

Is there down payment help for Orange buyers?

Yes. Countywide, first-time buyers in Orange can look at the Orange County Mortgage Assistance Program and the Orange County Mortgage Credit Certificate, and statewide at CalHFA's MyHome Assistance Program. Income and price limits apply, and the right combination depends on your situation. The finder on this site lists more than 40 programs across Southern California.

Are there restrictions on remodeling homes in Old Towne Orange?

Yes. Old Towne is a historic district, so exterior changes such as windows, additions and demolition go through the city's design review and preservation standards. Interior updates are generally not affected. I help buyers understand what a home can become before they write an offer.

Official resources

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