Melati Real Estate Group

Open house today, 1:30 to 4:30 — 291 Fremont, Lake Forest.

This one is in The Meadows, and it’s the finished version of a house most buyers only see as a base plan. Built by Toll Brothers in 2023, then upgraded twice: once at the design centre, again after move-in. Owned solar. Full outdoor kitchen with a built-in BBQ island. Wide-plank wood floors, quartz counters, and a two-story great room with walls of glass.

4 bedrooms, 4 baths, 2,284 square feet. Saddleback Valley Unified.

Shaan and I are hosting. Walk in, take your time, ask us anything.

Jasmine Sayeed, Broker | Founder · Melati Real Estate Group · DRE
02051340

The 30-year fixed hit 7.03% on September 24 — the first reading above 7% since January 2025.

That is the fourth consecutive weekly increase, and Orange County is already showing the effect. Homes in escrow fell to 1,793, the fewest since February 16. Active inventory held roughly flat at 5,045.

What it means if you are selling. The buyer pool got smaller this month, and it shrinks a little more with every rate increase. Your list price on day one is now the single biggest decision in the sale. Homes priced at the market are still going in 40 to 46 days. Homes priced ahead of it are the ones sitting past 60 and taking a reduction later.

What it means if you are buying. Rates cost roughly $483 more per month on a $1,000,000 loan than they did a year ago. What you get in exchange is leverage. Above $2.5M, sellers are closing an average of $152,465 below asking — 3.4%, up from 2.3% the week before. In the $2M-and-up band there are 1,291 active listings and a 59-day median. That is the softest part of this market.

Figures as of September 21 and September 24, 2026.

Twenty minutes, your address, your numbers: calendly.com/jasminesayeedbroker

Jasmine Sayeed, Broker | Founder, Melati Real Estate Group · DRE #02051340

If you were waiting for rates to drop before you bought — they went the other way. Four weeks in a row.

The 30-year fixed came in at 6.95% on September 17, a fourth straight weekly increase and 0.30 points above where it sat a month ago. On a $1,000,000 loan that’s roughly $200 more a month in principal and interest, and about $455 more than a year ago.

Here’s the other half. Orange County inventory went back up to 5,032 active listings. 638 new listings came on last week and only 358 closed. More to choose from, less competition for it, higher payment. That’s the trade in front of buyers right now.

Selling: price to the last 30 days, and look at a rate buydown before a price cut.
Buying: get re-approved this week, and ask for seller-paid points instead of a lower price.

Full report goes out to my list Saturday mornings. Comment REPORT and I’ll add you.

Sources: Orange County Housing Report (Sept 14, 2026), Freddie Mac PMMS (week ending Sept 17, 2026).
Jasmine Sayeed · Broker | Founder · Melati Real Estate Group
DRE 02051340

Happy birthday, Shaan. 🎉🎂

From all of us at Melati Real Estate Group, here’s to your best year yet. Watching you grow into this business has been one of the proudest parts of mine.

Swipe → and drop a birthday wish for him in the comments.

Shaan Sayeed · Real Estate Associate DRE 02446607

Happy birthday, Shaan! 🎉🎂

From all of us at Melati Real Estate Group, here's to your best year yet. Watching you grow into this business has been one of the proudest parts of mine.

Here We GROW!! Some very exciting news! My youngest son, Shaan just got his real estate license and joined the family business!

Melati Real Estate Group is growing.

Please join me in welcoming Shaan Sayeed to the team as a licensed Real Estate Associate. Shaan is working with buyers and sellers across Orange County, and he brings the same standard our clients have come to expect — responsive, prepared, and genuinely investedh in getting it right.

If you or someone you know is thinking about a move, he'd love to help.

📩 [email protected]
📞 913.272.4110
DRE #02446607

Rooted in purpose, blooming with results.

🏡 Open house this Saturday & Sunday, 1:30–4:30 PM — 291 Fremont, Lake Forest.

Walk in, no appointment. Shaan and I are hosting both afternoons 👋 come through and ask us anything.

🛏️ 4 beds · 🛁 4 baths · 📐 2,284 sq ft · built 2023 · 💰 $2,479,000
✨ $400K+ in completed upgrades — owned solar, custom BBQ island, designer finishes throughout.

Bring your agent, bring your questions, bring the person you keep sending listings to 😉 See you in The Meadows.

📞 (949) 485-8009 · Jasmine Sayeed, Broker/Founder · Melati Real Estate Group · DRE 02051340

✨ Just listed in The Meadows — 291 Fremont, Lake Forest.

🛏️ 4 beds · 🛁 4 baths · 📐 2,284 sq ft · built 2023 · 💰 $2,479,000

This one was upgraded twice — once at the builder’s design center, then again after move-in. Over $400K of it. Calacatta Gold quartz and JennAir in the kitchen, two-story great room with walls of windows, wide-plank wood floors, owned solar paid in full ☀️

Outside: covered patio with a fire table 🔥, built-in BBQ island, landscape lighting, and a second balcony upstairs.

The short version — the next owner doesn’t have to do a thing.

👉 Swipe through, then DM me or call (949) 485-8009 for a private showing.

Jasmine Sayeed · Broker/Founder
Melati Real Estate Group
DRE 02051340

$187,887. That is what the average Orange County seller above $2.5 million gave up off asking last week.

Below $2.5 million, the same number was $15,656.

Same county. Same seven days. About three times the discount in percentage terms for crossing one price line.

It is not a softening market — inventory actually fell for a second straight week to 4,984 homes and closings rose to 443. Homes between $1M and $2M are moving fastest at a median of 41 days.

It is a liquidity difference. Above $4M, expected market time is 185 days. Above $6M, 352. Thinner buyer pools take longer to clear, and time is what turns into concession.

Selling above $2.5M: put the concession in your list price, not your escrow. Buying: that is exactly where your leverage is.

Figures as of September 7, 2026. Link in bio to book 20 minutes.