Pacific Palisades Fall 2026 Progress Report: Rebuilding Momentum, Measure TE Relief, and a Thriving Town Core

CAMPBELL WELLMAN PALISADES MARKET UPDATE FALL 2026

Anyone spending time in Pacific Palisades this fall can feel an unmistakable shift. Nearly two years after the January 2025 fire, the conversation has moved decisively from recovery planning to active execution. Across every canyon, bluff, and residential street, framing is rising, scaffolding is coming down, and the everyday rhythm of coastal town life is returning in full force.

For current homeowners weighing their next move—and for buyers looking from afar at one of Southern California’s most irreplaceable coastal enclaves—the Fall 2026 data tells a story of disciplined growth, legislative relief, and long-term economic conviction.

1. Legislative Relief: Measure TE Passes

In a major victory for local homeowners, Los Angeles voters approved Measure TE on the November 3 ballot. Once certified, the measure grants qualifying fire survivors a one-time exemption from the City of Los Angeles’ Measure ULA transfer tax (4.0% on sales above $5.4 million and 5.5% at $10.9 million and above) for residential properties damaged or destroyed in the fire.

  • The Window: Applies to eligible residential transactions closing through January 6, 2030.

  • Why It Matters: By removing a 4.0% to 5.5% closing-cost penalty on higher-value lots and newly completed rebuilds, Measure TE restores critical financial flexibility for original owners deciding whether to sell a lot, list a finished custom home, or hold long-term. (Note: County certification is slated for late November, and owners who previously paid ULA on a qualifying post-fire sale should consult their escrow and tax advisors regarding the city's refund process).

2. By the Numbers: Rebuilding & Land Activity (As of November 2026)

Permitting and active construction have reached critical mass across 90272, while vacant lot transactions demonstrate sustained confidence in the neighborhood’s underlying land value:

Metric Current Figure Market Takeaway
Building Permits Issued 1,410 Streamlined approvals and pre-approved standard plans continue to clear the pipeline.
Homes Under Construction 1,211 Over twelve hundred active residential build sites across the Palisades.
Homes Completed 70 Families are actively moving back into brand-new, modern-code residences.
Lots Sold Since the Fire 603 Deep, sustained buyer conviction in coastal land fundamentals.
Lots Sold (Last 30 Days) 20 Steady autumn absorption despite broader macroeconomic rate discipline.
Active Land Listings (MLS) 179 Healthy selection for custom builders and end-users evaluating lot orientations.
Pending / Under Contract 26 Consistent transactional velocity heading into the winter holiday window.

For one of the most iconic legacy-building opportunities in Palisades, check out our incredible listing on Via De Las Olas, and hear Colin's personal story about this once-in-a-lifetime piece of land here.

3. The Return of Town Life: Palisades Village & Local Anchors

Real estate value is inseparable from neighborhood vitality—and this fall has delivered major milestones for daily life in town:

  • The Bay Theater Reopens Tomorrow (November 13): In one of the most meaningful cultural milestones of the fall, Caruso, Paramount Pictures, and The LOT officially reopen the historic five-screen Bay Theater at Palisades Village tomorrow, Friday, November 13, complete with luxury dine-in upgrades and first-run programming.

  • Palisades Village Momentum: Following its August reopening, the center has rapidly become the vibrant commercial anchor of the community—with roughly one-third of its storefronts introducing fresh concepts alongside beloved staples. New additions include Chef Nancy Silverton’s Italian steakhouse Spacca Tutto, Alphabet Bar & Grill, Ueki (next to Blue Ribbon Sushi), LESET, and Violet Grey, joining returning favorites like Angelini Ristorante & Bar, Porta Via, K Bakery, and elysewalker.

  • Looking Ahead to Q1 2027: Loomey’s Toys celebrates its grand opening in its new Village space this Saturday, November 14, while Erewhon is slated to return to its Sunset Boulevard anchor space in January 2027, restoring a major daily grocery hub alongside Vons.

  • Neighborhood Favorites & Gathering Spaces: Independent staples continue to power daily routines across Sunset and the Highlands—from Prima Cantina (and morning coffee pop-up Pali Drip) and Pali Trading Post on Sunset, to Palisades General Store and Spruzzo in the Highlands, the Wednesday afternoon Farmers Market on Swarthmore, and the recent groundbreaking of the Gensler-designed Palisades Recreation Center restoration.

The Campbell Wellman Take: Local Roots, Builder Precision

For Colin Wellman, co-founder of Campbell Wellman and Spiegel Wellman Construction, this recovery is deeply personal. Born and raised in Pacific Palisades—and living there today after recently completing the post-fire renovation of his own family home—Colin views the neighborhood not as a spreadsheet, but as home.

"Watching 1,211 homes go up across the streets I grew up on—and seeing families walk back into Palisades Village and the Bay Theater—confirms what locals have always known: you cannot replicate the coastline, the community, or the lifestyle of Pacific Palisades. Whether you are evaluating the true structural value of a lot, navigating Measure TE, or planning a ground-up coastal build, having a team that lives here and builds here makes all the difference."