Housing Reporter

Amancai Biraben

Biraben covers housing and real estate across Southern California. A native Angeleno and Columbia University graduate, she has written for SCNG, The Associated Press, The New York Times and more. She's passionate about the ways housing and real estate intertwine with larger forces like politics, economy, culture and more. She is also fluent in Spanish.

A pressurized tank filled with methyl methacrylate is sprayed with water at GKN Aerospace in Garden Grove, CA, on Saturday, May 23, 2026. (Photo by Jeff Gritchen, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Scientists: What Garden Grove chemical tank crack means and why liquid nitrogen is a bad idea

May 25, 2026 at 8:56 a.m.

As the threat of a chemical tank explosion in Garden Grove dragged into its third day, officials announced a potentially positive new development -- a crack was seen on the...

A person sleeps in front of HWH Luxury Living owned by Blueground on South Spring Street in Los Angeles on Friday, May 22, 2026. The month-to-month apartment complex hiked their rents over 50% during the Los Angeles wildfires despite a ban on price gouging. (Photo by Sarah Reingewirtz, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Los Angeles reaches $1.2 million settlement with Blueground

May 22, 2026 at 2:45 p.m.

The rental startup accused of price gouging in Los Angeles during the January 2025 wildfires agreed to work with the city.

Big Bear realtor Paul Zamoyta looks out from one of his listed properties on Friday, May 8, 2026, one of many homes sitting on the market following a rise in short-term vacation rentals and homes listed for sale after the COVID-19 pandemic. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)

Big Bear pivots to luxury as pandemic’s short-term rental push slows

May 28, 2026 at 4:20 p.m.

A buying spree five years ago has settled with property owners courting high-end visitors.

Chula Vista, CA – February 15: Residential homes in Chula Vista’s Rancho Del Rey community. San Diego County home sales last year were among their lowest in history. There were 27,117 home sales in 2025, said data released this week by Attom Data Solutions, and was the third-lowest in history. Experts point to lingering issues from the pandemic as factors: Homeowners with locked in low mortgage rates unwilling to move, and prices elevated much higher than wages. Long-term issues, such as slowed for-sale home building and high capital gains taxes when a home is sold, only compounded issues. The median home price in December was $865,500, which combines sales of single-family homes, condos and townhouses, up 0.3% annually, and down 1.1% from November. (Nelvin C. Cepeda / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

14,000 apply for California’s housing down payment program

May 21, 2026 at 7:04 p.m.

The program's third round, which will go to between 1,500 and 3,000 applicants, could be its last.

The median sales price for an existing, single-family home in California rose to an all-time high of $813,980 in April, a record-setting 34% price jump from April 2020, according to the association. (iStockphoto)

Young adults own just 11% of Los Angeles-OC homes, a national low

May 14, 2026 at 6:39 p.m.

Instead of buying, a new survey says, they are choosing to either rent or live with family or friends.

Housemates, from left, Darlene Hastings, Silvia Salazar, and her mother Ester Salazar share a meal at their home in South Gate on Tuesday, April 21, 2026. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Strangers to family: Southern California senior citizens lean into home-sharing

May 9, 2026 at 3:13 p.m.

Programs matching senior homeowners and renters are rising in popularity, chipping away at a shortage of housing inventory.

Homes burn in Malibu along PCH during the Palisades Fire on Wednesday, January 8, 2025. (Photo byDavid Crane, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Two California home insurers to raise rates, expand coverage by late 2026

May 6, 2026 at 4:54 p.m.

Travelers Insurance and the Interinsurance Exchange of the Automobile Club will use the state's new catastrophic risk model to update coverage and get homeowners off the FAIR Plan.

California seeks up to $4 million from State Farm over alleged mishandling of wildfire claims

May 4, 2026 at 4:24 p.m.

A seven-month investigation by the Department of Insurance found hundreds of instances of policy violations. State Farm denied the investigation’s findings of wrongdoing, noting the problems lie with the state’s...

A home in the Clairemont neighborhood for sale in late October. A new Realtor.com study suggests local buyers need to earn more than $200,000 a year. (K.C. Alfred / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Affordability rises for California homebuyers but gaps remain for Blacks, Hispanics

May 4, 2026 at 8:27 a.m.

Realtors survey finds only 11% of Black and Hispanic households could afford a home compared with 23% of white households.

Legacy Square Apartments on E. Santa Ana Blvd. in Santa Ana on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

How Southern California churches are turning unused land into affordable housing

May 3, 2026 at 8:01 a.m.

Land-rich churches are bringing affordable housing into their spiritual agendas at a time of declining congregations.

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