Orange County Retail Figures Q3 2026

– The Orange County retail market’s availability held at 3.7% in Q3 2026, unchanged quarter-over-quarter, matching the market’s lowest recorded level, as limited new development continued to keep supply constrained.

– Net absorption turned negative at 114,000 sq. ft. in Q3 2026, reversing the positive 389,000 sq. ft. posted in Q2 2026, as a shortage of new vacant space constrained leasing activity. Lifestyle & Mall properties recorded the largest occupancy losses, at negative 194,000 sq. ft.

– Only 6,000 sq. ft. delivered in Q3 2026, down from 75,000 sq. ft. in Q2 2026, limited to two freestanding restaurant projects in Central Orange County, as land scarcity and high construction costs continued to constrain ground-up development.

– The overall average net asking rent increased $0.13 quarter-over-quarter to $2.69 NNN per sq. ft. per month in Q3 2026, the highest level in five years, as limited available space continued to support landlord pricing power.

– Total retail investment sales nearly doubled to $267.8 million in Q3 2026, up from $138.8 million in Q2 2026. Five deals exceeded $20 million this quarter, compared with one last quarter, led by Westwood Financial’s $56.2 million purchase of Peninsula Marketplace.