Local builders say the spring selling season started relatively briskly, with house hunters willing to sign sales contracts as mortgage rates dipped and the economic outlook seemed less muddy.

In Los Angeles and Orange counties, pending sales were up 11% in February vs. January, according to Zonda. Sales were still 30% below February 2022. In Riverside and San Bernardino counties, pending sales were up 3.4% in February vs. January but down 35% in a year.

What they’re saying …

Richard Douglass, Trumark Homes’ Southern California president: “February was a tremendous month, with 52 homes sold — marking our largest sales volume for the month in the history of our division. We have 11 new home communities actively selling all over Southern California from Irvine and Saddleback to Oceanside and Covina. We are seeing continued increases in traffic and reservations.”