Buyer demand just hit a 20-year low, but the pattern is clear: from mid-January through mid-March, demand surges 47-69% while inventory rises only 10-24%—and that gap accelerates the market noticeably. Steven Thomas, Orange County's leading housing economist, breaks down why the Winter Market creates the best momentum for sellers and the least competition for buyers—and what it means for buyers and sellers right here in Orange County.