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alifornia's deadly wildfires, fueled by seasonal Santa Ana winds, have claimed at least 16 lives and destroyed over 10,000 structures in Los Angeles County. As the fires continue to spread, economists and real estate agents warn of their impact on the state's already dire housing crisis.

    Real estate agent Jason Oppenheim, star of Netflix's "Selling Sunset," is offering free representation to those affected by the fires, urging his colleagues to come together for the community. However, Oppenheim alleges that some renters are being price-gouged, with one instance reported where a renter was asked for thousands above the original asking price.

    Rental prices in areas like Bel Aire, which was at the epicenter of the fires, have skyrocketed, with a 4-bedroom rental averaging $20,000 per month - a 28% increase from last year. Economists predict that the fires will exacerbate the housing market, forcing those displaced to seek quick rentals and further squeezing an already tight supply.

    "This event is going to cause a big increase in homelessness," said Jonathan Zasloff, who lost his home in Pacific Palisades and teaches land use policy at UCLA. "It's not just people of means; it will affect everyone from one end of the socioeconomic spectrum to the other."

    California has struggled with a tight market and inflated prices for over a decade, despite efforts to make housing more affordable. The recent fires may finally prompt policymakers to address the issue head-on, potentially leading to regulatory changes that allow for faster home building.

    "This is such a devastating event that hopefully it rocks the system to the point where we can get real reform," said Dave Rand, a land-use attorney and board member of the California Housing Partnership Coalition. The Los Angeles City Council has pledged to build up to 500,000 new housing units by 2029, but it remains unclear how the fires will impact this goal.