Preview Orange County Real Estate Blog - June, 2026

Buying in Newport Coast: What Out-of-State Buyers Should Know About HOAs, Mello-Roos, and Ocean Views

The Aaronson Group Luxury Coastal Real Estate – OC
Buyer Strategy — Newport Coast

Buying in Newport Coast: What Out-of-State Buyers Should Know About HOAs, Mello-Roos, and Ocean Views

What should out-of-state buyers know before buying in Newport Coast? Most Newport Coast homes are gated and HOA-governed, many carry Mello-Roos special taxes on top of the base property tax, and ocean view premiums can be substantial. Verify all three during your contingency period.

If you are relocating to coastal Orange County from another state, Newport Coast is likely near the top of your list, and for good reason. Gated communities, panoramic Pacific views, and proximity to Crystal Cove and Pelican Hill make it one of the most…

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Dana Point Harbor Revitalization 2026: Where the Project Stands and When It Finishes

The Aaronson Group Luxury Coastal Real Estate – OC Courtesy: Katrina Foley oc.gov
Local Area — Dana Point

Dana Point Harbor Revitalization 2026: Where the Project Stands and When It Finishes

What phase is the Dana Point Harbor Revitalization in right now? As of mid-2026, the harbor is in Phase 3 of the Commercial Core (Mariner’s Village), with landside demolition underway since February 2026 and completion targeted for late 2026. The marina is past two-thirds complete and into Phase 12 of 15.

The $600 million transformation of Dana Point Harbor is no longer a rendering on a wall. Construction is active across the waterfront, permits are in place, and the capital is committed. For buyers and sellers along the…

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Why Cameo Shores Homes Rarely Hit the Open Market

The Aaronson Group Luxury Coastal Real Estate – OC
Neighborhood Insight – Cameo Shores, CDM

Why Cameo Shores Homes Rarely Hit the Open Market

Why do homes in Cameo Shores rarely come up for sale? Cameo Shores is a finite oceanfront enclave of roughly 170 homes in Corona del Mar, and most owners hold for decades or trade quietly off-market, so very few listings ever reach the MLS.

If you have been watching for a home in Cameo Shores, you already know the pattern. Weeks pass with nothing new. Then a sale closes that you never saw advertised. That is not bad luck. It is how one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in coastal Orange County actually works.

Cameo Shores sits on the ocean side of Pacific Coast…

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Bayfront, Beachfront, or Inland Newport Beach: Comparing the Three Lifestyles

The Aaronson Group Luxury Coastal Real Estate – OC
Neighborhood Guide — Newport Beach

Bayfront, Beachfront, or Inland Newport Beach: Comparing the Three Lifestyles

What is the difference between bayfront, beachfront, and inland Newport Beach? Bayfront homes line Newport Harbor with private docks and calm water. Beachfront homes face the open ocean with sand and surf. Inland Newport Beach trades waterfront access for larger lots, gated privacy, and golf course living.

Three buyers walk into Newport Beach. The first wants to step off the back patio and onto a Duffy boat. The second wants sand underfoot and surf through an open window. The third wants a gated driveway, a wide lot, and a fairway out back. All three…

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Flower Streets vs. Village vs. Cameo Shores: Where to Buy in Corona del Mar

The Aaronson Group Luxury Coastal Real Estate – OC
Buyer Guide — Corona del Mar

Flower Streets vs. Village vs. Cameo Shores: Where to Buy in Corona del Mar

Flower Streets, the Village, or Cameo Shores — where should you buy in Corona del Mar? It comes down to priorities. The Flower Streets and the broader Village offer walk-everywhere living steps from shops and sand, while Cameo Shores trades walkability for private beach access, protected ocean views, and larger estate lots on the ocean side of Pacific Coast Highway.

Corona del Mar (CdM) is a small community, but it holds several distinct ways to live on the coast. Within a few minutes of one another sit a walkable cottage grid, a lively oceanfront village, and…

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New Price at 28265 Las Casas: Casta del Sol 55+ Opportunity Now Within Reach

The Aaronson Group Luxury Coastal Real Estate – OC
Price Improvement  •  Mission Viejo

New Price at 28265 Las Casas: A Casta del Sol 55+ Opportunity Now Within Reach

What is the new price at 28265 Las Casas in Mission Viejo? 28265 Las Casas is now offered at $1,020,000, and the sellers are prepared to review offers starting from $999,000, placing this Casta del Sol home within reach of buyers shopping under $1 million.

A price improvement is a strategy, not a signal of weakness. For 28265 Las Casas, the adjustment is deliberate: it positions this guard-gated 55+ home in Casta del Sol exactly where active buyers are searching right now.

Here is what the new number means, why it matters for buyers watching the…

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Now Under $6M: 2155 Temple Hills Drive with DRB-Approved Plans

The Aaronson Group Luxury Coastal Real Estate – OC
Price Improvement  •  Laguna Beach

Now Under $6M: 2155 Temple Hills Drive with DRB-Approved Plans

What is the new price for 2155 Temple Hills Drive in Laguna Beach? 2155 Temple Hills Drive is now offered at $5,995,000, a $1,000,000 reduction from its original $6,995,000 list price, and it includes DRB-approved architectural plans by Anders Lasater Architects.

Opportunities to build a custom home in Laguna Beach with the design already approved are rare. At its new price, 2155 Temple Hills Drive pairs that head start with one of the most sought-after settings in the city.

Here is what the price improvement means, why the approved plans carry real value, and who…

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Luxury Leasing in Coastal Orange County

The Aaronson Group Luxury Coastal Real Estate – OC
Leasing – Coastal Orange County

Luxury Leasing in Coastal Orange County

Can you lease a luxury home in coastal Orange County? Yes. The Aaronson Group represents tenants securing high-end lease homes across Dana Point, Newport Coast, and the coastal OC communities, including guard-gated enclaves that are rarely advertised publicly.

Leasing is not only for clients who are not ready to buy. In coastal Orange County, some of the most discerning homeowners and families lease by choice: to bridge a remodel, to establish a seasonal beach base, to time a relocation, or to live in a community before committing to a purchase there.

The Aaronson Group recently placed two…

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Sold in Placentia: 1930 Whitman Drive Closes at $1,387,000

Sold in Placentia: 1930 Whitman Drive Closes at $1,387,000 

What sold at 1930 Whitman Drive in Placentia? The Aaronson Group represented the sale of 1930 Whitman Drive, a newly remodeled 4-bedroom home in Placentia that closed at $1,387,000 in a cash transaction with a 10 day escrow.

A turnkey remodel, a well-prepared listing, and a buyer ready to close without financing: that is the short version of how 1930 Whitman Drive came together. The home sold for $1,387,000, roughly 99 percent of its $1,400,000 price, with no loan contingency to slow things down.

Located in the heart of Placentia (92870), this 2,065-square-foot residence sits…

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Short-Term Rental Rules in Laguna Beach: What Luxury Buyers Must Know

The Aaronson Group Luxury Coastal Real Estate – OC
Buyer Guide — Laguna Beach

Short-Term Rental Rules in Laguna Beach: What Luxury Buyers Must Know

Can you run a short-term rental in Laguna Beach? In most cases, no. The city no longer issues new short-term rental permits in residential zones, and any stay of 30 days or fewer is tightly regulated, capped, taxed, and licensed.

If you are buying a coastal home in Laguna Beach with the idea of offsetting your costs through Airbnb or Vrbo income, read this before you write an offer. The rules changed again in 2025, and they do not work the way most buyers assume. Getting it wrong can cost you the income you were counting on, plus the penalties that come with operating…

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