Last updated on September 25th, 2023 at 12:14 pm

The last Los Angeles housing market crash began in late 2007 and lasted until 2012.

Home prices in Los Angeles, California have been on a rise since then. Over time LA will appreciate based on its history and is one of the best places to invest in real estate.

Affordability is also a major factor [everyone knows it’s an expensive place to live], as its becoming harder and harder to buy real estate in Southern California on some sort of budget. 

However, the housing market is still struggling to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. This is due to a combination of factors including inventory shortages and increasing demand from buyers.

San Diego and San Francisco (2 metros in California) home values have soared since the great recession, and there are very few deals

la unemployment data
Image: courtesy of FRED

Spoiler alert

For those wanting to buy a home at a discount, now might be the time (homes prices and home values have declined over 4.4% according to the California Association of realtors.

  1. Inventory is still very low and sellers aren't forced to sell their homes.
  2. The LA unemployment rate is under 2%
  3. Housing starts are low
  4. Foreclosures are still well below averages. 

Los Angeles real estate market trends

If you want to buy a home in Los Angeles, you need to consider a few key housing market trends. Those trends can help you determine when to buy and where to buy.

Buyers need to research a neighborhood to understand its affordability.  You need to check out the overall cost of living, the rent-to-income ratio and the median home value to income ratio in your area.

You also need to consider the current mortgage rates in your area. If you can get a low mortgage rate [probably not as rates are at recent all time highs that most people can remember], then you’ll be able to save money on your home purchase.

Current mortgage rates aren’t doing buyers any favors. With the recent banking crisis, banks may further tighten credit!

Next, you need to look at the total sales-to-listings ratio in your area. This ratio will tell you whether a neighborhood is a buyer’s or a seller’s market.

If you live in a seller’s market, then you have more people looking to buy homes than there are homes for sale. In a balanced real estate market, this ratio is typically between 0.12 and 0.2.

  • As of January 2023, the median sales price of single family homes in Los Angeles fell to $700,000 (YOY).
  • The Inland Empire in comparison based on those same statistics was just $540,000. 
  • Southern California prices have dropped just .7%

Are home rents going up or down in LA

Los Angeles renters are likely to face some difficult decisions in 2023. As housing prices continue to rise, it’s becoming harder for renters to find homes that are within their budget and in the neighborhoods they want.

Residents will have make a decision whether to stay put or move to a new house.   That can lead to more people being priced out of their current area, said Michael Lucarelli, CEO of real estate networking site RentSpree.

However, there’s a silver lining to this situation: As property prices increase, more landlords are likely to lower their rents. 

This can be done in a variety of ways, including by offering incentives such as free month’s rent or included parking.

And this looks to be the case. According to a study seen here, rents in LA have been steadily dropping [about 1%].. 

So what is the average rental price in Los Angeles

The average rental price for an apartment in Los Angeles, California is $2,781 as of February 2023 [RentCafe]. However, the median rent for all bedrooms and all property types in Los Angeles, CA is $2,950 as of August 2023 (source: [Zillow].

Tom Lawler explains that this could help to slow price growth down in 2023, which would be a welcome development for a lot of Americans. 

He says that this could also go a long way in convincing the Federal Reserve to slacken its rate hikes and ease inflation.

What is the current average home price in Los Angeles

According to the search results, the current average home price in Los Angeles, California is $975,000 (source: Redfin) as of June 2023.

Los Angeles market data dec 22
image: courtesy of California Association of Realtors

key housing values in LA

Home prices in Los Angeles have soared to levels [which are unaffordable for many people] over the past few years. However, rising interest rates and a lack of housing supply are poised to shake up the market, leaving many wondering if there will be a housing crash in 2023.

Despite these warnings, some experts believe the housing market will still see some sales and price appreciation. They point to high homeowner equity and mortgage products that are becoming less risky. 

These factors could help keep housing prices  at high unaffordable levels. That is especially true in areas that have remained affordable in relation to median income.

  • According to the California Association of Realtors, homes sales are down over 47% year over year. 
  • The median price for homes has fallen 4.4% MTM.
 

Another key factor influencing home prices is the number of homes for sale. This Is called housing inventory [ you will see a chart later] and it is very low!

This is an indicator of how many people are actively shopping for a home.

If you are thinking of buying a home, its always important to research the neighborhood and look at the history of the appreciation!

These include top-rated real estate agents that can guide you through the process.

Is real estate a good Investment in California

Buying real estate in Los Angeles is not as easy [many people lose money] as people think. With home prices skyrocketing, it’s a challenge for many people to afford to buy a home in the city.

However, there are still plenty of investment opportunities available in the city. 

If you’re willing to invest in a rental property, it’s an excellent way to earn a steady cash flow and secure your financial future.

Real estate in Los Angeles has a track record of high appreciation rates [and this probably will stay true} in the state of California. This makes it an ideal long-term investment option.

The real estate market in Los Angeles is expected to continue to rise, but the rate of increase will slow down a bit. 

The upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate hikes are expected to make investors nervous, and this could have a negative impact on the housing market.

How Much will home prices drop In LA

In 2023, the housing market could experience a slowdown. This is due to high interest rates and inflation. If unemployment begins to increase, this can cause a chain reaction.

Despite this, experts think that the housing market is in a period of correction. Home prices could drop in 2023, but they don’t expect it to be a large decline.

Many homebuyers are looking to move away from California to avoid both the higher cost of living,  mortgage rates, and other factors that are keeping the real estate market expensive. 

Many homeowners don’t want to sell, only having a new mortgage with interest rates approaching 7%.

What is the average monthly mortgage payment in Los Angeles

The average monthly mortgage payment in Los Angeles, California depends on several factors including the loan amount, interest rate, and down payment.

  • According to Business Insider,  the median monthly home payment [including utilities, insurance, and HOA fees] was more than $2,700 per month in the United States as of 2021
  • Realtor.com says as of August 2023, the current mortgage rates in Los Angeles, CA are 7.05% for a 30-year fixed loan, 6.21% for 15-year fixed loan, and 6.32% for a 5-year ARM 

What is the average home price to income ratio in LA

  • According to NBC Los Angeles if you want to qualify for a single-family home at the median cost in Los Angeles County, your annual income will have to ring in around $127,000.
  • According to Construction Coverage, as of 2021, Los Angeles was one of the U.S. cities with the highest home price-to-income ratios, with a ratio of 9.1 

Housing inventory is low, but has begun to increase in the latter part of 2022. This has helped the Los Angeles market to stay afloat, but it also still hard for for potential buyers to find homes.

While the housing market is currently entering a small correction, there are still a lot of positive signs that suggest it will continue to grow in the future. 

Always keep an eye on your neighborhood to check on housing trends. 

foreclosure-data-la
Image: courtesy of Attom Data

Are foreclosures going up in Los Angeles

Home prices in Los Angeles rise and fall. However, supply levels have increased a bit and this could affect whether or not home prices rise, dip or level off in 2023.

The housing market is a seller’s market in Los Angeles County, meaning there are more people looking to buy than there are homes for sale. This is a good thing for home buyers as it makes it easier to find and secure a home.

Foreclosures occur when homeowners don’t make payments. Job losses are directly correlated to foreclosures. 

When a homeowner’s loan goes into default, the lender or government can seize their property and sell it off at auction or through a real estate-owned (REO) sale.

In a recession, foreclosure rates tend to increase as more homeowners lose their jobs and can’t make their mortgage payments. 

The good news is that the country’s housing crisis ended in 2011 and foreclosure rates have since remained fairly low.

 The number of foreclosures in Los Angeles County increased dramatically [from 2007-2011] during the Great Recession 

Attom Data shows us [1 out of every 401 housing units] that foreclosures in 2019 were very low and have been consistently dropping since the Great Recession.

If you’re planning to buy a foreclosure in Los Angeles, it’s important to choose an agent with experience buying foreclosed properties. 

They’ll be able to help you navigate competing claims, clouded titles, and iffy as-is homes. They may even have insider information on foreclosed homes that haven’t hit the open market yet, which can save you a lot of money down the line.

la housing inventory data
Image: courtesy of FRED

are home inventories going up

Housing inventory says a lot about the health of a particular market.

Los Angeles housing inventories have recently declined to 8,756 according to Fred Economic Data.

Remember, pre-pandemic crested above 15,000 listings in 2018. We are over 40% away from those recent highs. 

Cities and counties that have plenty of houses on the market will equate to higher inventories which can mean longer days on the market and eventually a seller will lower their asking price.

The housing market is still in the midst of tight inventories. With 3.1 months of supply left, it’s not close to what economists say is needed for a balanced market. That means there’s still a lot of upward pressure on home prices. 

However, other cities likes Seattle and Austin some of the lowest inventories in the country. 

how much could housing prices crash in California

There is no definitive answer to how much housing prices could decline.

Right now in LA, we are seeing drops in prices of just over 4%, but that can change fast. 

It’s no secret that housing prices are at an all-time high in the USA. 

Home prices are driven by a combination of factors including the local job market, real estate inventory, new housing starts, and the overall cost of living in that particular region.

Remember in 2008, housing prices in Southern California dropped 35%

Part of the reason for that huge decline was the debt of each homeowner.

The housing market has been on fire for the past few years, with some markets seeing prices shoot up [at a historic pace quite frankly] fast, and others experiencing [ like Austin and Boise] a small decline. However, most experts agree that the housing bubble is not yet about to burst in any significant way.

Nevertheless, the market is undergoing a shift as interest rates continue to rise, making home ownership more difficult for many. This can lead to fewer people in the market and a decrease in overall home sales.

Thankfully, this trend will likely only last until 2023, so it is not too late to purchase a new home. 

If you are looking to get into the housing market, it is recommended that you consult with an experienced real estate agent who can guide you through the process and help you make a wise decision regarding your home purchase.