Real Estate

Even as the flames still raged, the impulse to quickly restore two devastated communities to what they once were became a political imperative. First Gov. Gavin Newsom, then Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, issued orders designed to speed the rebuilding of damaged and destroyed homes by stripping away bureaucratic and regulatory obstacles. As urgent as […]

SANTA ROSA, Calif.  —  The sky above their newly built homes was clear, and the ground beneath their feet reassuringly soggy from recent winter rains. But as residents in the Coffey Park neighborhood made their way to a community gathering on a recent evening — passing one yard after another devoid of trees or brush

California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta on Saturday warned landlords that price gouging rules in effect because of the L.A. County fires apply even in cases where bidding wars break out over their property. Under those rules, which kicked in when the governor declared a state of emergency, local landlords generally can’t charge more than 10%

If you’ve lost your home or business in this month’s wildfires, you can receive substantial relief on your property taxes now and in the future — whether you decide to rebuild or move. You will be able to reduce what you owe immediately and defer payment. Ultimately, you can retain the taxable value of your

California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta has sent more than 200 letters to landlords and hotels warning them that they’ve been accused of wildfire-related price gouging, his office announced Friday. “The price gouging that we’re seeing and hearing about needs to stop now,” Bonta said in a release. “These letters are just one of many tools

More than 20 state lawmakers gathered with Assembly Speaker Robert Rivas (D-Hollister) on Thursday to telegraph their commitment to the fire-ravaged Los Angeles region and announce a sweeping legislation package to aid recovery efforts. The Palisades and Eaton fires are “a catastrophe at an unprecedented scale in California’s history: thousands of homes and businesses gone,

Gov. Gavin Newsom extended price gouging protections on rental housing Thursday amid calls for authorities to prosecute landlords jacking up rent in the wake of Los Angeles County’s devastating fires. Under California law, price gouging protections kick in during a state of emergency and generally bar landlords, hotel and motels from charging more than 10%

Southern California’s catastrophic fires have rocked the stock of Edison International, the parent company of Southern California Edison, as accusations and lawsuits about the utility’s potential role in starting the fires mount. Shares of Edison International closed up 5% at $61.30 on Wednesday after plunging 23% this month, making it one of the worst performers

In the Beverly Grove neighborhood of Los Angeles, the asking rent for a two-bedroom condo jumped from $5,000 to $8,000 in the wake of the fires that started last week and have left thousands homeless. In Venice, a single-family house saw a jump of nearly 60%. In Santa Monica, an owner listed a five-bedroom house

For the first time in memory, everyone around here either knows someone or is someone who has lost a home or been dislocated by the fires that have scarred so much of our beloved Los Angeles. And everyone wonders: What happens now? Will people rebuild? When will things get back to normal? Those of us