Suburbs where first home buyers are winning at auction

First-time buyers won bids on six homes across Santa Ana neighborhoods during June trustee sales, according to county records.

The trend follows tighter lending rules and a June 2026 average 30-year mortgage rate of 6.4 percent that has pushed some local sellers into foreclosure proceedings. City data shows 28 trustee sales occurred in Santa Ana last month, with first-time purchasers using down-payment assistance taking 12 of those lots.

Two areas stood out. In Floral Park, a couple secured a three-bedroom house on 17th Street for $695,000 after outbidding two investors. In the Lacy neighborhood near the Santa Ana Public Library, another first-time buyer closed on a duplex on Lacy Street using the city’s Homebuyer Assistance Program.

Local programs in play

The Santa Ana Housing Authority runs the Homebuyer Assistance Program, which offers up to $40,000 in deferred loans for eligible buyers who attend a two-hour counseling session at the agency’s office on Civic Center Drive. The Orange County Housing Authority supplements that with its own matching grant for households earning under 120 percent of area median income, a threshold set at $112,000 for a family of four in 2026.

County Recorder data lists the median winning bid at trustee sales in Santa Ana at $712,000 for June 2026, compared with $685,000 in the same month last year. Floral Park and Lacy together accounted for eight of the 12 first-time buyer wins.

Next steps for buyers

Interested buyers must register with the Santa Ana Housing Authority by July 31 to qualify for the next round of sales listed for September. Staff at the Civic Center Drive office can review credit and income documents before properties reach the auction block.

This article is general information only and is not personal financial or investment advice. Consider your own circumstances and seek licensed professional advice before making financial decisions.