The gap between list and sold prices is still part of the story.
If you are trying to decide how aggressive to be in Irvine, CA, I would look at where homes are actually closing. Last month, the median sold price was $1,510,000 against a median list price of $1,780,000, and that spread matters.
Last month in Irvine, CA, the median sold price was $1,510,000 and the median list price was $1,780,000. I would read that as a clear reason not to stretch a price just because a home is active.
For buyers, the discipline is simple stay grounded in what closed, not just what is being asked today. For sellers, the job is to price with enough precision that the market responds instead of hesitates.
Keep your ceiling realistic. Compare asking levels with closed prices, then decide what kind of move still makes sense for you.
