If We're Headed Towards a Recession, What Does That Mean For Housing Prices In Orange County?

April 2025 Housing Market Forecast for Orange County Wow, what a rollercoaster week for mortgage interest rates! What happens if the US ends up in a recession? If you’re not glued to the housing market every day (most people aren’t!), here’s the scoop: last week started off with rates at 6.75%, dipped down to a 6-month low of 6.55% by Friday, and then zoomed back up to 7% early this week. As of today, we’ve settled around 6.92%. Yep, that’s a lot of movement in just a few days!

So why all the bouncing around? A lot of it comes down to big news about tariff policies, which are creating uncertainty in the economy. When investors and markets get nervous, mortgage rates often feel the ripple effects—housing is definitely not immune.

Now, you might be thinking: “Okay, but what does a change from 6.55% to 7% really mean?” Great question! If you were buying a $1 million home, locking in your loan at last week’s low instead of this week’s high could mean about $240 less per month on your mortgage. Interestingly, this recent swing in rates isn’t because of inflation (which actually came in lower than expected). Instead, it’s more about what’s happening globally with trade and tariffs. Until we get clearer answers on those policies, expect mortgage rates to keep doing their dance.

So, if you're house-hunting or thinking about jumping into the market, it’s a good time to stay curious and keep an eye on these shifts—or find a trusted guide to help you make sense of it all!

Want to have a friendly no pressure conversation about your specific real estate related questions? Schedule a 15 minute discover call with me by clicking here: https://calendly.com/joshalexanderrealestate/over-the-phone-informational-session

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Josh Alexander

THE brokeredge

JoshAlexanderRealEstate@gmail.com

714.366.2186

DRE#:01974435

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