From Los Angeles, via The New York Times:
Some evacuees, like Lila King, have ended up staying in their vehicles.
Ms. King, 75, has been bouncing between motels and sleeping in her truck with her 40-year-old son since they were displaced by the Eaton fire.
Ms. King recently had surgery after she broke several ribs in a fall, and the nights sleeping in her truck have left her aching. She said she has been living off tacos from a nearby gas station, and wondering when, if ever, she will be able to return to her mobile home in Altadena, the unincorporated community at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains that was devastated by the Eaton Fire.
“We’re trying to get some help to get a place,” she said. “I’m worried.”
Mad Blog Media 
Yep. And, Newsome is asking people to rebuild and stay in LA. There are lots of smart folks around the Mad Dog pickle barrel. Do you folks think the LA real estate market is about to crash?
Yes.
I’m in disagreement. My prediction is that there will be an abrupt shift on residential property ownership from owner-occupied to rental, as private equity buys it up. There will be a dip in property values, given that property valuation is land + improvements, and all the improvements (meaning the buildings) will be gone, but that’s about it. Homeless will skyrocket as the rebuilding kicks in, because the new absentee landlords will be charging top dollar for the rentals. But property values? Only a bit of a dip.
Interesting argument. I hadn’t even considered private equity, which has been transforming owner-occupied to rentals at a frenzied pace. They’re snapping up mobile-home parks too. L.A. must look like a fat three-legged goat to a pride of lions.
I think Jon may be right. It’s a sad situation but nothing is below private equity seeking a quick return.
Between Monty Python and George Carlin, all the bases on this subject have been covered. Average people of LA should assume the position. BOHICA.
I’ve bought and sold a few houses, but I’m no expert. Still … you gotta think that buyers, lenders and insurance companies are gonna be as skittish as a long-tailed cat in a room full of rocking chairs.
You’d expect a lot of people to be eager to sell, but who wants to buy? Beats me. I’ve never traded real estate in a disaster area.
The Governor is asking, but the insurance companies will probably determine whether people return to their homes. What will they get in compensation for the damage, what will they get to clear the property for a rebuild, and what will their property insurance be in the aftermath?
Probably an adjustment in LA real property value is pending.
There be some smart folks on this here blog (excluding that odd duck from Michigan) so I’m left wondering if there is a sure-bet donation source for folks like Lila to tap. One that isn’t either a scam or having “administrative ” fees that eat up the actual $$ donated.It’s so damn hard to verify these things and unless I actually know the people involved in the deal or can drive up to their building and see them with my beady eyes, I usually keep the wallet under guard.
Agree Herb. We keep our donations local. But, I would like to help one person like Ms. King directly. I guess I will start doing a little research.
Gents, the Los Angeles Times has a long list of ways to donate. I’ll pass along any other info I turn up.
Thanks POG. There is for sure some trusted operations in that Times list.
There were places I researched and sent money to after the Maui fire and when Helene hit Western NC. Probably some good agencies for LA, too, albeit I imagine also plenty of scammers.
I looked at a house in Asheville recently. The homeowner’s insurance was 3x what I pay here in Fanta Se for a house of similar price. When Iniki hit the Islands, we lost our homeowners insurance and had to scramble. I imagine anyone trying to rebuild in the Wildland-Urban Interface in La-La land will have a hard time getting insured.
People blame climate change for everything. Sure, it is drying out and warming up. But Southern California was a desert before LA started stealing water from the Colorado, Owens River, etc. (see Cadillac Desert for details). The place has always been primed to burn, whether or not all those people want to live there. As we said the other day, Ma Nature always bats last, and she usually wins the Triple Crown.