Farmers Insurance is expanding availability in California, planning to write several thousand new policies, especially in areas the state has flagged as distressed: high wildfire risk, previously underserved, or both. Alongside that expansion, Farmers has proposed a larger discount for bundling home and auto policies. The catch is that Farmers has also filed for a 6.99 percent statewide rate increase as part of the same plan, so while availability is improving, costs are likely to stay steep across the board.
A First Read on 2026
A new Redfin forecast suggests the housing market will normalize in 2026 rather than face a major downturn. For the first time since the Great Recession, income growth is expected to outpace home price growth, which should slowly improve affordability. National home prices are projected to rise only about 1 percent year over year, a significant slowdown from recent years, while mortgage rates are expected to average around 6.3 percent for a 30-year fixed loan, slightly lower than in 2025 but still elevated. Existing home sales are forecast to rise about 3 percent, to roughly 4.2 million transactions. Redfin is calling it a gradual reset driven by higher wages and slower price growth, not a crash.
Best New Restaurants and Openings This Month
- Broken Spanish Comedor, Culver City · Mexican, $$
- Cafe Matcha, Studio City · Teahouse, $
- Clark's Oyster Bar, Malibu · Seafood, $$$
- Fiorelli Pizza, Beverly Grove · Pizza and Italian, $
- Morihiro Sunset, Echo Park · Japanese and sushi, $$$$
- Old Gold Tomato Pies, Los Feliz · Pizza, $$
- The Ramona Room, Echo Park · Cocktails, $$
- Redwood Pie, Hermosa Beach · Italian and pizza, $
Featured Properties
Not all properties listed here are Compass or Basson Team listings. This is a roundup of what's active across the Westside right now.
- 533 Grand Boulevard, 90291 · Venice · $4,795,000 · 4 bd, 7 ba, 3,585 sq ft
- 509 Santa Clara Avenue, 90291 · Venice · $4,495,000 · 3 bd, 3 ba, 2,909 sq ft
- 4029 East Boulevard, 90066 · Mar Vista · $3,995,000 · 4 bd, 5 ba, 3,738 sq ft
- 10943 Barman Avenue, 90230 · Park West, Culver City · $2,599,000 · 5 bd, 4 ba, 2,774 sq ft
- 3241 Federal Avenue, 90066 · Mar Vista · $2,499,000 · 3 bd, 2 ba, 1,577 sq ft
- 2716 6th Street, 90405 · Santa Monica · $2,495,000 · 4 bd, 4 ba, 2,261 sq ft
- 46 Wavecrest Avenue, 90291 · Venice · $2,495,000 · 3 bd, 3 ba, 1,924 sq ft
- 3251 Stewart Avenue, 90066 · Mar Vista · $2,200,000 · 3 bd, 2 ba, 1,391 sq ft
- 12420 Barbara Avenue, 90066 · Mar Vista · $1,999,000 · 4 bd, 3 ba, 1,705 sq ft
- 3975 Frances Avenue, 90066 · Mar Vista · $1,890,000 · 3 bd, 4 ba, 2,150 sq ft
- 3808 College Avenue, Unit 2, 90232 · Clarkdale, Culver City · $1,749,000 · 3 bd, 4 ba, 1,950 sq ft
- 654 Pier Avenue, Unit C, 90405 · Santa Monica · $1,530,000 · 2 bd, 3 ba, 1,639 sq ft
- 2221 Ocean Avenue, Unit 101, 90405 · Santa Monica · $1,499,999 · 1 bd, 1 ba, 870 sq ft
- 5343 Janisann Avenue, 90230 · Sunkist Park, Culver City · $1,228,000 · 3 bd, 2 ba, 1,760 sq ft
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