The first fire-ravaged property in Altadena has officially sold, attracting a surge of offers in a competitive market.
Realtor Brock Harris listed the vacant lot at 95 West Calaveras Street for approximately $450,000, ultimately selling it for $550,000.
“We were getting flooded with calls—20 to 30 a day,” Harris said. “In the end, we received about a dozen offers, and the price was bid significantly over asking.”
However, not everyone is in favor of fire-affected properties changing hands so quickly. Advocacy groups like Altadena Not For Sale worry that residents who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire may feel pressured into making decisions that aren’t in their best interest.
In a statement, the group emphasized that realtors, developers, and contractors “need to act scrupulously and work with clients to explore alternative solutions. They should avoid inducing panic selling or exploiting Altadena’s trauma and vulnerability.”
Harris acknowledges these concerns but clarifies that in this particular case, the seller was a landlord who had no intention of rebuilding.
“No one should be pressured to sell, and if people want to rebuild, they absolutely should,” he said. “But for many, rebuilding simply isn’t an option.”
He points out that constructing a new home in California is a lengthy and demanding process, often taking three to five years—something many property owners aren’t prepared to endure.
“The real danger is that in 10 or 20 years, a third or even half of these lots could still be sitting empty,” Harris said. “Unfortunately, with wildfires in California, that’s become the norm.”
Still, he remains hopeful for the community’s recovery.
“What makes Altadena special isn’t just the houses—it’s the people,” he said. “The sooner we rebuild and get families back into homes, the sooner the community can truly come back.”
