Last week, I attended USC Lusk’s State of Los Angeles County Housing and Neighborhoods (SOLACHAN) event, digging into the data behind affordability, supply, lending, development, and policy across Los Angeles County.
The annual SOLACHAN report provides a comprehensive, data-driven look at the county’s housing and demographic landscape.
Having completed the USC Ross Program in Real Estate, I’ve spent a lot of time around USC Lusk and its approach to looking at real estate beyond the transaction — through development, finance, economics, housing, and policy.
For more on that experience and USC’s broader real estate ecosystem, read:
USC Lusk Center for Real Estate: Ross, Casden, and the USC Lusk Annual Retreat
https://www.jasonbergmanrealestate.com/blog/2026/6/15/jason-bergman-attends-usc-lusk-annual-retreat-with-usc-ross-program-alumni
And when you start putting the findings from SOLACHAN next to each other, the picture gets a lot more interesting.
There isn’t one story about housing in Los Angeles.
There are signs of progress. There are persistent challenges. And there are some significant shifts happening beneath the numbers.
Los Angeles Is Still Not Building Enough Housing
Between 2018 and 2025, more than 179,400 new housing units were certified for occupancy across Los Angeles County.
There are some encouraging signs. Affordable rental production improved significantly in 2025.
Then there are ADUs.
Accessory dwelling units accounted for 37% of all new housing units in LA County in 2025 — the highest share on record.
That’s not a small footnote.
It tells us something about how Los Angeles is actually adding housing right now.
But zoom out, and the larger supply issue remains: Los Angeles County is still not producing enough housing at any affordability level to meet its housing goals.
And what already exists is getting older.
The median housing unit in LA County is now 58 years old — 11 years older than California’s median and 16 years older than the national median.
So the conversation isn’t simply about building more. It’s also about what we build, where we build it, and what happens to the housing we already have.
Homeownership Is Becoming Harder to Reach
This is where some of the numbers really start to land.
The median home value in Los Angeles County is approximately 10 times the median household income. For comparison, that ratio is eight times income statewide and four times nationally.
Homeownership in LA County is also near a 54-year low.
And the decline has been particularly significant among middle-income households: down 23% among households earning $50,000 to $99,000 and 29% among those earning $100,000 to $149,000.
Then you get to lending.
Purchase mortgage demand in Los Angeles County has fallen 41% since 2021, and 2025 recorded fewer purchase mortgage applications than any other year going back to 2007.
That number is hard to ignore.
It doesn’t mean Angelenos suddenly stopped wanting to own homes. But it does illustrate what happens when home prices, borrowing costs, available inventory, lending, and household economics begin pressing on the market at the same time.
That’s why looking at any one number in isolation rarely tells the whole story.
For a broader look at how those dynamics translate into individual neighborhoods and real estate decisions, read my:
Los Angeles Real Estate: The 2026 Guide to Buying, Selling, and Living in LA
https://www.jasonbergmanrealestate.com/blog/2026/5/26/los-angeles-real-estate-the-2026-guide-to-buying-selling-and-living-in-la
Los Angeles Homeowners Are Staying Put
There is another side of the ownership equation: turnover.
According to the 2026 report, 45% of Los Angeles County homeowners have lived in their homes for more than 20 years, compared with 36% statewide and 33% nationally.
For the real estate market, that matters.
When owners remain in their homes longer, fewer existing homes cycle back onto the market. In a county already struggling with housing supply, lower turnover adds another layer to the inventory conversation.
The report also identified an interesting shift among younger homeowners: a growing, although still relatively small, share own their homes without a mortgage — a pattern researchers suggest may reflect inherited, already-paid-off properties.
The Rental Market Is Changing Too
The affordability conversation doesn’t stop with homeownership.
Higher-income households are becoming a larger part of the Los Angeles rental market. Households earning $150,000 or more represented 10% of renters in 2014. By 2024, that figure had risen to 17%, making them the fastest-growing renter income group.
At the same time, affordability pressure remains significant across the rental market.
That combination is worth paying attention to.
More high-income households are renting while many existing renters continue to struggle with housing costs.
In Los Angeles, the line between who rents and who owns is increasingly about more than income alone.
Some of LA’s Most Important Affordable Housing Already Exists
One of the more interesting sections of this year’s report focused on Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing, or NOAH.
These aren’t government-subsidized properties. They are generally older multifamily properties whose rents remain relatively lower through market dynamics.
USC’s analysis identified approximately 809,000 units across its three NOAH categories, representing 75% of LA County’s multifamily rental stock in buildings with five or more units.
These units tend to rent for roughly $500 less per month than the comparison group, although many of the people living in them remain rent-burdened.
And this is where the conversation gets more nuanced.
Building more housing matters.
But so does understanding the housing that already exists — and the role it plays in affordability across Los Angeles.
The report also makes clear that preservation alone isn’t enough. Expanding housing supply and improving renter incomes remain part of the equation.
The Bigger Picture for Los Angeles Real Estate
What I appreciated most about SOLACHAN was seeing all of these issues in the same room, backed by data.
Supply affects affordability. Affordability affects who buys and who rents. Interest rates and lending affect demand. Development timelines affect what actually gets built. Policy touches all of it.
Real estate can get very transactional very quickly.
A listing. A sale. An interest rate. A price per square foot.
But underneath those numbers is a much bigger housing story.
As a Los Angeles real estate advisor, studying that bigger picture is an important part of how I approach the business.
For anyone buying, selling, investing, developing, or simply trying to understand real estate in Los Angeles, looking at one piece of the market in isolation isn’t enough.
The data presented at USC Lusk illustrated both the progress being made and the challenges that continue to shape housing across Los Angeles County.
Understanding those forces gives us a much clearer picture of where Los Angeles stands today — and where it may be headed next.
Frequently Asked Questions About Housing in Los Angeles County
What does the 2026 SOLACHAN report say about housing in Los Angeles?
The 2026 State of Los Angeles County Housing and Neighborhoods report shows both progress and continuing challenges across the Los Angeles housing market. The report examines housing supply, affordability, homeownership, mortgage lending, renters, demographic change, homelessness, and naturally occurring affordable housing.
Is Los Angeles County building enough housing?
No. Although Los Angeles County continues to add housing, the 2026 SOLACHAN findings show that the county remains below its housing production goals across affordability levels. ADUs have become a particularly important source of new housing, accounting for 37% of new units in 2025.
Is homeownership declining in Los Angeles County?
Yes. According to the 2026 SOLACHAN research, homeownership in Los Angeles County is near a 54-year low. The decline has been particularly significant among middle-income households.
Why is homeownership so difficult in Los Angeles?
There is no single reason. Home prices, household incomes, mortgage rates, housing supply, lending conditions, available inventory, and low homeowner turnover all interact. The SOLACHAN data shows that the median home value in Los Angeles County is approximately 10 times the median household income.
How have mortgage applications changed in Los Angeles County?
Purchase mortgage demand in Los Angeles County declined 41% between 2021 and 2025. The report found that 2025 had fewer purchase mortgage applications than any other year going back to 2007.
Are Los Angeles homeowners staying in their homes longer?
Yes. The report found that 45% of Los Angeles County homeowners have lived in their homes for more than 20 years, compared with 36% across California and 33% nationally. Lower turnover can affect the number of existing homes available for sale.
What role are ADUs playing in Los Angeles housing?
Accessory dwelling units have become an increasingly important part of Los Angeles County housing production. ADUs represented 37% of new housing units in LA County in 2025, according to the 2026 SOLACHAN presentation.
What is Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing in Los Angeles?
Naturally Occurring Affordable Housing, commonly called NOAH, refers to unsubsidized rental housing that remains relatively affordable through market dynamics rather than direct government subsidy.
USC’s 2026 analysis identified approximately 809,000 units across its three NOAH classifications in Los Angeles County.
What does the 2026 housing data mean for Los Angeles home buyers?
Countywide data provides important context, but Los Angeles is made up of highly localized real estate markets. Buyers should evaluate inventory, pricing, competition, property condition, financing, and long-term value at the neighborhood and property level rather than making decisions based solely on countywide headlines.
What does the 2026 housing data mean for Los Angeles home sellers?
Limited housing production and low homeowner turnover can contribute to constrained inventory, but conditions vary significantly by neighborhood, price point, architecture, and property condition. Sellers should evaluate current comparable sales and buyer demand within their specific micro-market before determining pricing and marketing strategy.
Who is Jason Bergman?
Jason Bergman is a Los Angeles real estate advisor with The Agency, representing buyers, sellers, investors, and developers throughout Los Angeles, Pasadena, South Pasadena, Northeast Los Angeles, and surrounding Southern California communities.
His approach combines residential real estate experience with market analysis, strategic pricing, redevelopment knowledge, and continued study of the larger economic and housing forces influencing Los Angeles real estate.
What is Jason Bergman’s connection to USC Lusk and the USC Ross Program?
Jason Bergman completed the USC Ross Program in Real Estate through the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate. His capstone team received top honors for its development proposal, which incorporated market analysis, financial modeling, feasibility, design, and community impact.
Jason continues participating in USC Lusk alumni programming and industry events as part of his ongoing study of housing, development, finance, and real estate across Los Angeles.
About Jason Bergman
Jason Bergman is a Los Angeles Real Estate Advisor with The Agency, representing buyers, sellers, investors, and developers throughout Los Angeles and Southern California.
His practice combines residential real estate, strategic pricing and marketing, market analysis, investment and redevelopment knowledge, and an advisory-led approach to helping clients make informed real estate decisions.
Jason completed the USC Ross Program in Real Estate through the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, where his team's capstone development proposal received top honors.
Learn more about Jason Bergman here
Explore more Los Angeles real estate research and neighborhood guides:
https://www.jasonbergmanrealestate.com/blog
RELATED READING
USC Lusk Center for Real Estate: Ross, Casden, and the USC Lusk Annual Retreat
https://www.jasonbergmanrealestate.com/blog/2026/6/15/jason-bergman-attends-usc-lusk-annual-retreat-with-usc-ross-program-alumni
Los Angeles Real Estate: The 2026 Guide to Buying, Selling, and Living in LA
https://www.jasonbergmanrealestate.com/blog/2026/5/26/los-angeles-real-estate-the-2026-guide-to-buying-selling-and-living-in-la
SOURCE
USC Lusk Center for Real Estate / Neighborhood Data for Social Change
2026 State of Los Angeles County Housing and Neighborhoods (SOLACHAN)
https://la.myneighborhooddata.org/solachan-2026-exec-summary/
