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Los Angeles property prices: 50 years of change and the current market

From 1975 to 2026, the key stages of Los Angeles prices, the current median price, neighbourhoods and the rules to know before buying from abroad.

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The Remoters editorial team
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Property prices in Los Angeles have risen more than 26-fold in fifty years. That is what the FHFA house price index shows. The FHFA is the federal agency that oversees housing finance in the United States, and the index covers the Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale metropolitan division: it goes from 21.33 in the second quarter of 1975 to 557.38 in the second quarter of 2026, in nominal terms, without adjusting for inflation. The path was far from smooth, though, with two sharp falls in thirty years.

Today, the market has slowed. In August 2026, the median price of an existing single-family home sold in Los Angeles County reached $946,950, up only 1.7% over one year, according to the California Association of Realtors (C.A.R.). Here are the key stages of this evolution, the current state of the market, the neighbourhoods to know and the rules to be aware of before buying from abroad.

Fifty years of prices: the key stages

1975-1990: a steady rise

According to the FHFA series, the Los Angeles index rose roughly six-fold between the mid-1970s and 1990, going from 21.33 in the second quarter of 1975 to 126.67 in the second quarter of 1990. It was a period of high general inflation, which also inflates nominal prices.

1990-1996: the first correction

In the early 1990s, the trend reverses. The index falls back to 100.23 in the second quarter of 1996, a drop of about 21% in six years. A useful reminder: in Los Angeles, prices can fall for a long time.

1996-2007: the surge

The recovery is spectacular: the index reaches 335.99 in the second quarter of 2007, more than triple its 1996 level.

2007-2012: the subprime crisis

The financial crisis hits hard. In the second quarter of 2012, the index had fallen back to 218.29, about 35% below the 2007 peak.

2012-2026: the recovery, then the plateau

Since 2012, the rise has been almost uninterrupted: the index has more than doubled to reach 557.38 in the second quarter of 2026. The FHFA table for this quarter shows a rise of 31.9% over five years but only 1.2% over one year, and a slight fall of 0.3% over the last quarter. Nationally, the FHFA measured a rise of 2.1% over one year in August 2026.

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The market today: high prices, subdued demand

The latest C.A.R. figures describe an expensive market that is calmer than at the start of the decade:

  • Los Angeles County: median price of $946,950 in August 2026 for an existing single-family home, versus $930,720 a year earlier (up 1.7%).
  • Greater Los Angeles metropolitan area, wider: $850,000, up 1.2% over one year.
  • California: $901,420 for a single-family home, and $640,000 for a condominium (condo) or townhouse, down 1.5% over one year.
  • Sales: in the county, they are up 2.1% over one year, but down 13.4% from July.

The main brake is the cost of credit. In the second quarter of 2026, according to the C.A.R. affordability index, only 17% of households in Los Angeles County could afford the median home, then at $879,900. It took an annual income of at least $219,200 for a monthly payment of $5,480, calculated with a 20% down payment and a composite rate of 6.54%. The C.A.R. also notes that prices generally soften in autumn and winter, and that the recent rise in rates is weighing on demand.

Los Angeles neighbourhoods: what to know

Los Angeles is a very sprawling area, where price gaps between neighbourhoods are considerable. Think first in terms of travel time and lifestyle, then budget.

The most expensive addresses

Coastal areas like Venice and the neighbouring city of Santa Monica, as well as West Hollywood and Beverly Hills, concentrate the highest prices. Note that Santa Monica, West Hollywood and Beverly Hills are cities in their own right within the county, with their own local rules.

The sought-after neighbourhoods

Silver Lake and Echo Park, east of Hollywood, attract a young, creative crowd. Downtown LA, the business district, offers mostly apartments in buildings, with prices that vary widely depending on the building's amenities. Culver City, to the west, has a reputation as a balanced neighbourhood well connected by the metro.

The more affordable areas

Koreatown, dense and lively, is served by the metro. North Hollywood, in the San Fernando Valley, remains more affordable than the western neighbourhoods. Before buying in a cheaper area, visit at different times and find out about development projects and natural hazards in the area.

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Buying in Los Angeles as a foreigner

The steps of a purchase

  1. Set up financing: get an agreement in principle from your bank or a US lender before you search. Without a US credit history, plan for a larger down payment and longer timelines.
  2. Search and visit: the local market works with buyer's agents and seller's agents. Have the property visited in person, or by someone you trust.
  3. Make an offer: the written offer sets the price, the deposit and the contingencies (inspection, financing, appraisal).
  4. Inspect: have the condition of the property checked by an independent inspector, and read the association documents if it is a condo.
  5. Sign: the sale is finalised by an escrow company, a trusted third party that holds the funds until closing.

Tax rules to plan for

  • On resale: if the seller is a foreign person, the federal FIRPTA law requires the buyer to withhold 15% of the sale amount and pay it to the US tax authorities, according to the IRS. Exceptions and reduced rates exist for some properties bought as a residence by the buyer. This withholding is a tax prepayment, not the final tax.
  • For properties above $5 million: in the city of Los Angeles, Measure ULA adds a special tax on transfers above this threshold, in force since 1 January 2023, according to the city's housing department.
  • Every year: a property tax is due to the county. Add home insurance and, in a condo, the charges (HOA fees), which weigh on the real cost.
  • Rental income: it is taxable in the United States. Consult a tax adviser who knows the tax treaty between France and the United States before buying.

Our advice before you start

  • Keep the market's history in mind: two falls of 21% and 35% in thirty years. Buy for the long term, not for a quick resale.
  • Calculate the total cost: mortgage, property tax, insurance, charges, maintenance and closing costs.
  • Compare street by street: in Los Angeles, two neighbouring areas can have very different prices, rules and risks.

If you are buying from France, a Remoters home finder based in Los Angeles can target the neighbourhoods that suit your project, visit for you, help you analyse the documents and support you through to signing. The first conversation and the quote are free.

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