PORTOLA HILLS LIVING by Kelly Turbeville

 T here’s a moment in every real estate market when buyers look back and say: “I should have bought when prices were still in the low $500s.” In much of South Orange County… that moment is disappearing quickly. Welcome to   28873 Canyon Point   in the highly sought-after community of Portola Hills. Currently listed at   $525,000 , this home is priced well below the current neighborhood average SOLD PRICE of approximately   $583,000 .  And frankly… finding anything in South OC at this price point with this location, lifestyle, and extra usable space is becoming rare. Like “gas under $3” rare. More Than Just a Condo This isn’t your standard cookie-cutter floorplan. The home features: A versatile loft space perfect for: a home office guest area workout space creative studio or second living area Attached garage Open layout with natural light Functional living space for first-time buyers, singles, couples, or investors That extra loft space matters more than ev...

  Portola Hills Real Estate: Buyers Found Deals in Q1… But Sellers Need to Pay Attention Now If you’ve been watching the Portola Hills real estate market and assuming nothing is moving unless it’s perfect , that’s not exactly true. The first quarter of 2026 actually told us something important:  Buyers who were paying attention found opportunity.  And that matters. Because while the market didn’t fall apart, it also didn’t behave like the wild “throw a number at the wall and hope” years either. In fact, several homes in Portola Hills sold below what many would consider neighborhood market potential . That means one thing:  The buyers who were active in Q1 had more leverage than people expected. And for sellers? That’s your warning shot. Yes, Inventory Increased; That Changed the Conversation One of the biggest shifts we saw in the first quarter was more inventory hitting the market . When inventory rises, buyers get options. And when buyers get options, they get pick...

While it seems like it is more summer than spring, with the hot weather we have this week.. Today's forecast is 94 degrees and it's March.   We technically haven't even hit Spring yet. That happens next week.    Orange County doesn't really get hit with a seasonal delay in the market.. We have more what I call a holiday hangover market. It doesn't really start to wake up until after Super Bowl weekend.  At that point, inventory is generally the lowest.. as we get closer to April.. Inventory really begins to increase.. With May having the most activity. Listings that come typically after that tend to stay on the market a bit longer.  So the spring window to sell a home in the OC is pretty quick.  Of course, interest rates, world events also all play a role.. Which is what we are actually seeing today in the market.  Below is a quick look at both the Attached Market and Single Family Market.  This is through February. Where we saw the first maj...

As we stepped into 2026, Portola Hills is showing movement. Interest rates have eased to 5.99%, and we’re seeing buyer demand pick up after a slower finish to last year. Inventory is heavier than we typically see at the start of a new year...partly due to a new phase release in The Oaks, ultimately giving buyers more options and sellers more competition.  Below is a quick snapshot of how the market ended in January. J anuary closed with an average sold price of $1,253,273 in Portola Hills, with single-family homes averaging $1,671,000 and attached homes at $793,333. Homes are taking a bit longer to sell; 69 to 85 days on average, and we’re sitting at roughly five months of inventory. That tells us we’re in a more balanced market to start 2026. Buyers have options, but well-priced homes are still achieving strong list-to-sell ratios at 100%. The opportunity isn’t gone; as rates come down... Spring might be reflective of what we say in 2022? The numbers tell the story: more inventory...

Portola Hills 2025 Real Estate Recap... And What 2026 May Bring While 2025 was often labeled a “quieter” year in real estate, the data in   Portola Hills   tells a more nuanced story. Activity slowed compared to the frenzy of prior years, but demand never disappeared, it simply became more selective and more strategic. What the 2025 Numbers Tell Us In 2025, Portola Hills posted an   average sales price of $1,376,621 , with single-family homes averaging   $1,697,414   and attached homes averaging   $726,588 . Overall, sellers received   approximately 98% of list price , and homes averaged   mid-50 days on market , depending on product type. Inventory hovered around   five months , but that includes new builds that are not finished yet, placing the community in a relatively balanced market by historical standards.   The takeaway? Buyers were active... but disciplined. Pricing Was the Difference Maker Homes that were   priced correctly...