Palisades, Eaton fires leave 6,300 homeless

Fires destroyed over 5,400 homes

Palisades, Eaton fires leave 6,300 homeless

More than 6,300 homes in the Los Angeles area were destroyed or damaged by the Palisades and Eaton fires. According to Redfin, the fires left 14% of homes within their perimeters damaged, with 5,449 homes (86%) completely destroyed and 905 (14%) partially damaged.

The impact extended countywide, where 0.17% of all homes in Los Angeles County were affected.

While this is a small percentage overall, the ripple effects have been significant. Displaced residents are driving up competition for rentals, with many turning to long-term leases to secure housing.

"A rental listed for $16,000 per month got bid up to $30,000, and the winners took on a two-year lease. On the buying and selling side, people are pulling back, waiting for the dust to settle," said Redfin Premier agent Gregory Eubanks.

He added that homebuyers and sellers have also been affected, with some delaying transactions or withdrawing from deals.

Of the homes impacted, 56% were damaged or destroyed by the Eaton fire and 44% by the Palisades fire.

Single-family homes bore the brunt of the destruction, making up 89% of the total, or 5,636 homes. Multi-family properties accounted for 11% (707 units), and fewer than 1% were mobile homes (11 units).

The fires have intensified challenges in a market already facing constraints. Los Angeles County typically permits about 6,000 new single-family homes annually—a number that now mirrors the homes lost in these two fires. The limited inventory has driven some homeowners to rent out properties rather than sell, further tightening the market.

Alin Glogovicean, another Redfin Premier agent, noted that the fires had disrupted transactions, citing a $1.7 million home deal in Altadena that fell through after buyers withdrew.

"My best advice to families looking for rentals is to move as quickly as possible; call a real estate agent and ask for help,” said Glogovicean

Redfin’s analysis, based on Cal Fire data, examined only housing units within the fire perimeters and excluded commercial structures.

How should Los Angeles respond to the housing challenges brought on by these fires? Share your thoughts in the comments.