Los Angeles Multifamily Report – Winter 2021
Like most expensive gateway markets, the metro took a hit last year, with the average rent down 3.0 percent.
Los Angeles rent evolution, click to enlarge
Gateway markets struggled to hold on to residents and rent values in 2020 and Los Angeles was no different, as rates were down 0.1 percent on a trailing three-month basis as of December. Overall, figures in the metro fell by 3.0 percent in 2020, to an average of $2,157. A flight from expensive markets to nearby cheaper options such as the Inland Empire has pushed rent expansion in those areas while rates and occupancies in major urban centers continues to slide.
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Despite a significant drop in employment—down 9.1 percent year-over-year as of November 2020—some sectors have made progress in curbing the drop. Trade, transportation and utilities and construction have benefited from major ongoing infrastructure projects related to urban mobility. Two notable projects are the light rail extension connecting the Expo and Green Lines and the land access improvement project at the Los Angeles International Airport.
Los Angeles sales volume and number of properties sold, click to enlarge
Even with lockdown measures, development powered through in LA last year, with 9,458 rental units delivered. Another 27,000 units were under construction as of December, pointing to continued inventory expansion in the short and medium term. Meanwhile, transactions took a significant dip, as economic volatility dampened deal flow—$1.5 billion in multifamily sales were recorded last year, less than a third of 2019’s volume. We expect LA rent movement to be positive in 2021, at a moderate 0.3 percent rate.
