Search Orange County Real Estate

Orange County Real Estate, Inc.

Search every home for sale in Orange County, find out what yours is worth, and read the market data every week from the broker who writes it.

Orange County Real Estate, Inc. is a Costa Mesa brokerage working with buyers, sellers, and investors across the county. Eric Engelbert owns the company and is the broker of record, licensed since 1998 and a broker since 2003. The person who runs the firm is the person handling your transaction, from the valuation through the negotiation.

Most people who find us are looking for a home. A large share of them also have one to sell. Move-up buyers and downsizers are running two transactions at once, and the questions overlap: what is my house actually worth, what can I buy with it, and what happens if the timing does not line up. We handle both sides of that in one conversation, and when the timing genuinely does not line up, we can often arrange short-term financing so a purchase does not depend on a sale closing first. More about Eric »

Buying a house in Orange County

Buying

Search the full MLS, updated continuously.

Selling a house in Orange County

Selling

Pricing, preparation, and what your home will really bring.

New construction homes in Orange County

New Construction

Builder inventory across the county.

What Is Your Orange County Property Worth?

Start with the instant estimate for a range. Then have us check it against the actual comparable sales, the condition of the property, and what is happening on your specific street. The two numbers are often not the same.

GET MY INSTANT ESTIMATE »

Takes 30 seconds. Or call 949-430-7500 and skip straight to the real number.

How We Price and Negotiate

Before he sold his first home, Eric worked in construction alongside a custom home builder, then moved into real estate lending in Newport Beach, including work with a private lender. Three careers that turned into one skill.

A lender does not ask what a property might sell for on an optimistic day. A lender asks what it is genuinely worth if the asset has to be sold. That means selecting comparable sales rather than accepting whatever the software returns, and adjusting them for condition, lot position, view, and the upgrades a market will actually pay for. It is slower than pulling an average. It is also why our pricing tends to hold up when an appraiser or the other side of a negotiation puts it under scrutiny.

That work is what makes a negotiation winnable. When we hold a number, we can show exactly why we are holding it: the specific sales that support it, the adjustments behind them, and what the other side's comparables leave out. A position backed by data holds. A position backed by hope gets chipped away, usually in the last two weeks before closing when there is the most pressure to concede. Whether you are trying to net the most on a sale or make sure a purchase is worth what you are paying, that is where the outcome is decided.

A valuation a CPA could use

A Mission Viejo estate needed a defensible date-of-death value. The work came down to a property inspection, twelve comparable sales, two exact floor plan matches that anchored the analysis, and a written reconciliation the family's CPA used to establish a stepped-up cost basis. Read how it was built »

A closing saved in seven days

A buyer in her seventies found the single-level home she needed, then discovered a $300,000 shortfall in her funds. Because a private lender trusted Eric's valuation work, he was permitted to perform the appraisal and inspection himself. The loan funded in twenty-four hours and the home closed four days later. Read the full account »

The Orange County Housing Report, Every Week

Eric writes and publishes a weekly read on the Orange County market: active inventory, new listings, pending sales, closings, expected market time, and where each price range actually stands. Not a monthly recap of closed sales, which is a look in the rear-view mirror, but current supply and demand.

It is free, it is published in full on this site, and there is no email form in front of it. Most agents either sell this kind of data by subscription or hold it back for lead capture.

Read this week's Orange County Housing Report »

For neighborhood-level numbers, see the market reports by city.

Moving to Orange County?

Relocating is a transition, not just a transaction. We work with out-of-area buyers who cannot be here for tours, inspections, or contractor follow-ups, and we handle that legwork on the ground. Neighborhood fit, commute reality, and school district research come first, before anyone gets on a plane.

Start Your Relocation Plan »
Catalina sunset from the Orange County coast

What Our Clients Say

Rated 5.0 out of 5 across 14 Google reviews. Read them all on Google »

Sold in 9 days

"We sold our home in Costa Mesa in just 9 days with Eric's help. My husband thought we didn't need to hire a realtor, Eric broke down the entire process for us and it just made sense to work with him."

Debra F.

Three years to the right house

"Eric listened to our likes and dislikes and narrowed down continually over about 3 years. We feel we got the house we wanted at an advantageous price. A true professional."

Gerry M. Read on Google »

Would use him again

"Eric Engelbert is a realtor that you can trust with the sale of your home. He is a true professional, easy to work with, and communicates often to know your needs and keep you aware of the market."

Kim M. Read on Google »

Orange County, Neighborhood by Neighborhood

Values here shift within a few blocks, and county-wide averages hide more than they reveal. Whether it is a coastal ocean view property, a master-planned community in Irvine, a mid-century Eichler in the City of Orange, a golf course home, or a duplex or fourplex held as investment property, the analysis starts at street level.

Weekend Open Houses

Touring homes this weekend? We keep real-time open house directories for every community. City pages like Newport Beach and Irvine carry localized schedules.

View the master list: Search all Orange County open houses »

Have a question about your property or the market?

No pressure and no pitch. If you are a year away from doing anything, that is a fine time to start the conversation.

Call or Text 949-430-7500

Prefer to schedule? Book a 15 minute call

Orange County Real Estate, Inc.  |  Eric Engelbert, Broker  |  California DRE 01241208 and 01527370

Ten New Orange County Listings

$1,790,000
3 Beds 2 Baths OC26185029 MLS Active Status
Ideally situated in the coveted Dana Knolls community (NO HOA!), just minutes from Dana Point Harbor and the beach, this single-story corner-lot home marries ranch-style charm, an enclosed atrium that lends both an air of whimsy and indoor/outdoor living space, and a functional floor plan ready for you to make your own. Dana Knolls sits minutes from Dana Point Harbor, which is currently a major multi-year revitalization currently reshaping the waterfront. Doheny and Salt Creek Beach are close by for surf and sand, while the Lantern District's restaurants and boutiques are just a stone's throw away. This is an increasingly rare pocket of the coast where you get ocean air and harbor access at an approachable price point. Flooring and interior paint have been recently refreshed, while the home's original architecture remains fully intact: generous room proportions, an atrium that anchors the space with brick herringbone floors and soaring wood tongue and groove ceilings, and character that can be lived in and enjoyed or updated to your taste. Enter through the front door into the living room, grounded by a stone wood-burning fireplace and lit by a wide bay window facing the street. Along the back wall, a run of sliding glass doors pulls in natural light and opens directly to the atrium. The kitchen sits just off the living room and wears its history honestly. Original oak cabinetry runs the length of two full walls, paired with tile countertops, a gas cooktop, a built-in wall oven, and a sliding door that frames the backyard while you cook. The primary suite opens through its own private door to the atrium and includes an en suite bath with a single-sink vanity, tile countertop, and walk-in shower. Down the hall, two secondary bedrooms share a full bath with a dual vanity and tub/shower combination. Outside, the corner lot delivers: ample parking, a spacious backyard lawn framed by mature palms and tropical planting beds, and curb appeal rooted in the midcentury architecture this neighborhood is known for. The attached three-car garage holds built-in storage, workshop space, and laundry hookups… room to spread out that's increasingly hard to find at this price point. No HOA. Corner lot with a 3-car garage. Minutes from to Dana Point harbor and the sand. And, a blank slate ready to be refreshed when you are, don’t miss this rare opportunity to own your own slice of Dana Point history and create your own legacy in one of Orange County’s hottest markets.

33175 Big Sur Street, Dana Point

$1,989,000
5 Beds 4 Baths NP26181098 MLS Coming Soon Status
Searching for the ideal entertainer’s haven set against the backdrop of sweeping Spanish-inspired architecture? Behind the gates of Talega’s exclusive Catania enclave, this 5-bedroom, 4-bath residence immediately presents an elegant tone with its 3,296 sq ft layout enriched by lustrous tile flooring, plantation shutters, recessed lighting, French doors, and wood-beamed ceilings! Inside, the living area’s stone fireplace enhances the welcoming ambiance, while bright windows frame views of the landscaped backyard. A wainscoted formal dining room makes occasions feel memorable. Nearby, the chef-style kitchen pairs granite countertops and stainless steel appliances with handsome cabinetry and dual pendant-lit islands, creating opportunities for cooking, conversation, and casual gatherings. A breakfast nook opens through glass doors to the secluded rear terrace. A guest room on the first floor provides flexibility, and the split staircase leads to a versatile landing, an ensuite with a Juliet balcony, a bonus den, an additional two bedrooms, and your generous primary with its walk-in closet, twin vanities, and soaking tub. Outside, the partially covered patio invites lingering over cocktails or enjoying robust delicacies from a built-in grill, with native plants, a lawn, hardscape designs, and a multi-basin fountain setting the scene. Notables include a utility room with laundry and attached garages for one and two vehicles, respectively. Take advantage of your proximity to Tierra Grande Park, Talega's community pools and sports courts, miles of nearby hiking trails, local shopping, various golf clubs, and San Clemente's famed coastline and downtown district. Come experience how beautifully this home can turn everyday routines into something worth looking forward to!

20 Via Soria, San Clemente

$1,895,000
4 Beds 2 Baths OC26181771 MLS Active Status
First time on the market in over 50 years for a reason, this home has been loved & enjoyed by its owners for decades. Well-positioned on an ocean-view terrace high on the hillside above Broadmoor, this beyond-desirable home is sure to intrigue those in pursuit of a single-level with major views. Offering several values: No HOA, ranch-style floor plan all on one level (4 beds & 2 baths) with an open atrium courtyard entry, ideally positioned on a quiet single-loaded side street lined with other significant custom estates, underground power (no power lines), newer presidential comp roof, rain gutters tied into upgraded site drainage/hardscaping, & Andersen windows/doors - this property really hits on several desirable value measures. Truly amazing views being higher on the hill of distant rolling hills, major sunsets, Saddleback mountain, ocean, Dana Headlands & harbor framed by a picture window in the dining room. A classic ranch style elevation with a large grassy yard, stone cladding, mature landscaping, & newer vinyl fencing with one side offering generous space & double vinyl doors for potential golf cart parking & convenient storage (large lockable storage shed included). The open air atrium patio offers access via multiple sliders to the family room, living room, & guest bedroom wing. The living & dining rooms feature picture windows & sliders showcasing the stunning views beyond, all warmed by a central fireplace. Recently updated, the kitchen offers crispy white shaker cabinetry, backsplash tile, stainless appliances, & quartz counter tops with peninsula bar seating all open to the family room. The main living spills out to both the rear lounging patio & atrium. A spacious primary suite offers major views, especially from bed when waking up toward the ocean horizon & Dana Point harbor. Three guest bedrooms at the end of the hallway share a full guest bathroom - all finished in LVP flooring throughout the entire interior. Occupying a large 8,190 SF lot, this property offers tremendous outdoor space with room for expansion, off-street parking, & a 2-car garage (laundry in garage). Central to all that Dana Point & San Clemente have to offer: new restaurants, great schools, trail systems, world-class surf, oceanfront beach trail / bike paths, shopping, the nearby Outlet mall, SC Pier, amazing beach access along the whole stretch of coast, & the forthcoming DP Harbor remodel currently underway. Truly an opportunity to be someone’s next forever home.

257 Avenida La Cuesta, San Clemente

$1,310,000
3 Beds 3 Baths OC26185236 MLS Active Status
Experience stylish coastal living at 53 Finca, a beautifully renovated detached home in the sought-after ocean-view community of Richmond Pointe. Offering approximately 1,690 square feet of thoughtfully updated living space, this three-bedroom, two-and-one-half-bath residence blends modern design with everyday comfort. From the moment you enter, the home's open and airy layout makes an immediate impression. Soaring two-story ceilings create a dramatic sense of volume, while a floor-to-ceiling stacked stone fireplace serves as a stunning focal point in the main living area. Oversized white marble tile flooring extends throughout the first level, creating a bright, seamless flow that enhances the home's contemporary style. At the heart of the home is the extensively redesigned kitchen, opened to the family room to create an inviting great room perfect for entertaining and everyday living. A spacious center island with quartz countertops and waterfall edges anchors the space, complemented by custom white cabinetry extending to the ceiling, designer hardware, stainless steel appliances, elegant pendant lighting, and a custom marble backsplash accented with Swarovski crystal details for a sophisticated finishing touch. Upstairs, all three bedrooms feature rich dark wood plank flooring. The spacious primary suite offers a beautifully remodeled bathroom with dual vanities, slab stone countertops, premium fixtures, and a custom walk-in shower enclosed with frameless glass. The secondary bathrooms have also been thoughtfully renovated with quality finishes, including dual sinks in the upstairs full bath. Step outside to a private backyard that backs to a lush hillside, offering a peaceful setting with exceptional privacy. Enjoy your morning coffee, dine al fresco, entertain guests, or simply relax while taking in the refreshing ocean breezes. Richmond Pointe residents enjoy beautifully landscaped greenbelts with sweeping ocean views, neighborhood parks, and a tot lot. Ideally located in Rancho San Clemente, this home is just minutes from shopping, highly regarded schools, scenic hiking trails, and San Clemente's iconic beaches and surf. The nearby Life Time Fitness club provides resort-inspired fitness, wellness, and social amenities just moments from home.

53 Finca, San Clemente

Start Your Search

Based on information from California Regional Multiple Listing Service, Inc. as of . This information is for your personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties you may be interested in purchasing. Display of MLS data is usually deemed reliable but is NOT guaranteed accurate by the MLS. Buyers are responsible for verifying the accuracy of all information and should investigate the data themselves or retain appropriate professionals. Information from sources other than the Listing Agent may have been included in the MLS data. Unless otherwise specified in writing, Broker/Agent has not and will not verify any information obtained from other sources. The Broker/Agent providing the information contained herein may or may not have been the Listing and/or Selling Agent.