In January 2025, the Los Angeles Area watched in disbelief as devastating wildfires swept through the region. Thousands of buildings were destroyed and hundreds of thousands of individuals lost their homes. Some lost their lives Months later, residents are struggling to rebuild, relocate or move on with their lives. It is unclear how many will return given the barriers and costs of recovery; nor is it clear when things will return to “normal”.
Introducing REBuildOptions
We want to announce the launch of REbuildOptions: a community-centered place where homeowners, residents and local business can go to find resources, get help, and tell their stories.
REbuildOptions is available today at www.rebuildoptions.com.
We are grateful for the hard, steady work by our partners at the City and County of Los Angeles, as well as first responders and nonprofit participants. Even with the great information available, some residents – including perhaps you, your client, or someone you know – are feeling stuck and unsure of how to move forward.
REbuildOptions is about three areas of support: Rebuild, Revitalize and Relief
This site is built on the next three steps for our communities:
Rebuild. Repair and rebuild damaged homes and businesses, permitting, environmental mitigation, funding, and insurance resources.
Revitalize. Bring life back into the community including opportunities for schools, parks, public spaces, infrastructure, street trees and vegetation.
Relief. Support for individuals affected emotionally, financially and personally. Look for rich storytelling, qualified mental health resources, and personal choices including whether to rebuild or move away.
We Need Your Help!
Some parts of this website remain to be completed. For example, we are interested in learning about your efforts to revitalize the community. Are you aware of efforts to support street trees, parks, playgrounds, community gardens, and more? Where and how is the community coming together?
Let us know about new resources for support in finances, insurance, construction, and so much more. This website will remain as a growing and changing list of tools and ideas for you, your clients, and those who experienced losses.
Tell Us Your Story
Many individuals experienced harrowing stories of escape, danger, and loss. Telling their story can be a part of healing, recovering and moving forward. Some survivor stories are on the website, and we hope to feature more. Click here to find out how to weigh in and speak out. At the launch of this website in the fall of 2025, public agencies, business and community groups had provided important information for recovery from the fires. With REbuildOptions, we want to complement and build upon the extraordinary efforts of our friends and partners in the public sector and elsewhere. Even as cleanup and recovery efforts continue, we want to help find a way forward.
There is no one right answer for everyone
Choices to rebuild, sell, move away, or wait are deeply personal and rooted in each resident’s and business’ experience. While recovery and clean-up may be finishing, there remains much work to do. Just like our communities, this site is a work in progress and will grow to reflect the needs of its users. Check back frequently for updates, new resources, and new opportunities for support. Take our survey on these pages and send us your suggestions for what is needed most.
This website is supported by a coalition of several local Associations of REALTORS® – Arcadia, Pasadena-Foothills, Southland Regional, and Greater Los Angeles. It offers resources for those affected by the Eaton and Palisades Fires.
REALTORS®, licensed real estate agents who are members of the National Association of REALTORS® and who adhere to a strict Code of Ethics, live and work in these same communities. Many were affected by the fires and some lost their homes. A part of the commitment of REALTORS® is to support their communities in times like these, where it is needed most.
This website is made possible thanks to financial support from the National Association of REALTORS®.
by David Kissinger | November 15, 2025
