While multiple wildfires continue to burn all around the Los Angeles area, and with more high winds in the forecast, the scope of the problems created by the fires can't yet be assessed.
The personal tragedy facing thousands of families is impossible to grasp. Whole neighborhoods are simply gone. What can these people do? Who can help?
We have clients who've been affected by the fires, and friends and acquaintances who have lost homes. Expand the circle just a bit, and we know of dozens of families already whose houses were destroyed. It is all unspeakably sad.
Once again, the South Bay feels a bit like a protective bubble. The fire risk here seems comparatively low. No one here was (yet) forced to evacuate with a "go bag," pets and vital documents, never to see our homes again. (The spooky image of the pier above is unfiltered; taken Thursday morning, with smoke heavy in the air.)
It is too soon, but also not too soon, to delicately make a point that seems likely to be important over the next year to three years: More people are going to want, and need, to move to Manhattan Beach.
Already, almost anyone working in local real estate has fielded calls from people trying to help place friends and family. They're assessing rentals that are on the market now, and talking about buying before a potential "rush" of buyers hits our market. This is an absolutely live conversation that we're all having now, and we're only in Day 2 after the first fires broke out in Pacific Palisades.
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SEE MBC'S OTHER ARTICLES RELATING TO THE FIRES' IMPACT ON REAL ESTATE:
"Pricing Expectations Rising on Leases and Sales" (Jan. 13)
"Price-Gouging Warnings Fly" (Jan. 15)
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It will take years and years to rebuild in the affected communities. Meantime, thousands of people need homes now. Many will look to our safe community with low fire risk and good schools.
We still remember how frightening and ghastly the COVID-19 outbreak was. Somehow, that tragedy led quickly to a massive run on local real estate. Few could have seen those real estate impacts coming, but they came heavy, like a freight train.
Today, it takes no special brilliance to foresee what could happen here after thousands of people in Southern California were suddenly displaced.
If you're in the market as a buyer or seller – or might be – this immediate, unplanned, spike in the need for local housing is a new factor that you'll be contending with, one way or the other, for better or worse. It is that kind of truth that we felt was important to lay on the table now, as it will matter to all.
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UPDATE: Under an official state of emergency declared by the governor last week, rental properties generally may not be marked up more than 10% above rates advertised prior to the emergency Jan. 7. These "price gouging" regulations are expected to be in place at least 30 days, and may be extended.
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Need Local Help? Ask Dave Fratello
Looking for help with your home search, or sale? MB Confidential producer Dave Fratello is an active local broker with Edge Real Estate Agency. He and the team would be honored to help.
Edge is a full-service, boutique real estate agency representing buyers and sellers. We are experts in residential real estate in Manhattan Beach and nearby South Bay real estate markets.
We’re different because we uniquely blend online savvy, tech proficiency, marketing expertise, local knowledge and experience with negotiations and transactions in this area. For any question or a free consultation, reach out to Dave today.
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HOW TO HELP FIRE VICTIMS
Our sister site, MB News, has already got a first post about local efforts to help people impacted by the wildfires.
This includes local donation sites, and places where your financial contributions can make a difference.
Please visit the MB News story for more, and help however you can. See: "Help Those Affected by L.A. Fires." (Link goes offsite.)
Please see our blog disclaimer.
Listings presented above are supplied via the MLS and are brokered by a variety of agents and firms, not Dave Fratello or Edge Real Estate Agency, unless so stated with the listing. Images and links to properties above lead to a full MLS display of information, including home details, lot size, all photos, and listing broker and agent information and contact information.
