Coastal Currents · April 2026
March closed strong. Here's what that tells us about April.
March was the cleanest month San Clemente has seen in over a year. Median time on market fell to 11 days, homes closed above list, and price cuts sat among the lowest in Orange County. This issue also looks at Capistrano Beach and Beach Road.
Published by Adam Boehrer, Real Estate Agent, Pacific Sotheby’s International Realty, DRE #02419464.
A Note From Adam
March was the cleanest month I've seen in San Clemente in over a year. Median time on market dropped, sale-to-list ratios held above 100%, and homes priced right cleared in days, not weeks. South Orange County is moving faster than the rest of OC, and inside South OC the coastal cities are leading. The signal for sellers is clear. Pricing discipline still wins. The signal for buyers is that the deeper-value pockets, the homes priced too high that have been sitting, are where there's still room to negotiate. April is when the spring decision window starts to close, not open.
This Issue · Capistrano Beach
What's happening in the neighborhood.
Beach Road Is the Tightest Direct-Sand Pocket on This Stretch of Coast
Capistrano Beach, the small unincorporated stretch of Dana Point between the San Clemente pier and Doheny, is mostly bluff homes and the Beach Road oceanfront strip. Beach Road itself is a 24-hour guard-gated private community with direct beach access. Inventory on the strip stays small. Recent waterfront listings in Capistrano Beach have hovered around a 2.48 million median, which is the cleanest read on this market that you will get without a face-to-face conversation.
The Bluffs Above Beach Road Run on a Different Rhythm
Above the strip, the bluff homes have longer holds, fewer turnovers, and an older long-term resident base. Listings here are sparse by design. When the right one does come up, it is often the kind of property where the conversation matters more than the search alert.
Around Town
What's new in Capistrano Beach.
Beach Bocce and a Cleanup at Doheny on April 18
Two community events landing on the same Saturday at Doheny State Beach. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley host the Orange County Beach Bocce Championship, and the Doheny State Beach Foundation runs a community cleanup from 8 to 11 in the morning. Either one is a good way to spend a few hours on the sand if you are looking at homes nearby.
Live Music at Doho Cafe All Month
Doho Cafe inside Doheny State Beach has live local music on the patio through April, mostly weekday late afternoons from four to six. A quieter, less-promoted version of the harbor scene, and an easy excuse to actually walk the bluffs and the beach side of Capistrano Beach if you have not.
On My Desk
Deals worth knowing about.
Downtown San Clemente Coastal Compound
A compound property in downtown San Clemente, a short walk to Avenida Del Mar, the pier, and T-Street. One double lot holds an architect-designed main home and two additional independent living spaces, each with its own entrance, kitchen, and yard.
Downtown New Build Returning at a Lower Price
A newly built home in downtown San Clemente, a few blocks from Avenida Del Mar and about five minutes on foot to the sand. Currently off-market. Returning to the market soon at a reduced price.
Want to learn more about one of these properties?
By The Numbers
San Clemente, March and April 2026
San Clemente Single-Family | March 2026
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11
Median Days on Market
Down from 19 days last March.
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2.5
Months of Supply
Tighter than 3.3 months a year ago.
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$1.81M
Median Sales Price
91 active listings. 32 new pendings in March.
San Clemente City-Wide | April 2026 Snapshot
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28%
Listings with a Price Cut
Among the lowest in Orange County.
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100.8%
Sale-to-List Ratio, March
Homes under $5M closed at 101.1%.
-
+123%
10-Year Home Value Growth
Top tier of Orange County.
Sources: CRMLS via InfoSparks (March 2026 closings) and Pacific Sotheby's April 2026 Market Report.
San Clemente in Context
How the coast compares heading into peak spring.
How San Clemente sits against its coastal peers heading into peak spring.
| City | Days to Clear | Price Cuts | Sale / List |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Clemente | 52 | 28% | 100.8% |
| Dana Point | 74 | 27% | 96.0% |
| Laguna Beach | 201 | 34% | 96.7% |
| Newport Coast | 125 | 35% | 92.9% |
| San Juan Capistrano | 79 | 28% | 98.3% |
San Clemente is moving faster than most of South Orange County on market time, holding firmer on price, and closing at or above list. Among coastal peers, only Dana Point matches San Clemente on pricing discipline this spring.
10-year growth
San Clemente +123%, Dana Point +123%, Laguna Beach +98%, Newport Coast +139%, San Juan Capistrano +105%.
Know Someone on the Sidelines?
This is the window where a good introduction pays off.
Know a buyer who's been sitting on the sidelines?
With March closing strong and the spring market in full swing, this is the window when buyers who paused for two years are starting to come off the sidelines. If you have a friend, family member, or colleague who has been waiting for the right entry point, a quick conversation now is more useful than a rushed one in summer. I work coastal South OC end to end, including the off-market homes that never make it to the MLS.