Insights

Honest answers to the questions every family is asking.

Rebuild guides, insurance strategy, code-compliance updates, and community resources — written by builders who’ve been through 50+ fire rebuilds.

Rebuild Guide6 min read

How long does a Pacific Palisades fire rebuild take in 2026?

Eighteen to thirty months is the honest range. Here's where the months go — and where families lose time without realizing it.

Insurance7 min read

Insurance claim checklist: every document Palisades fire victims need

The 14 documents that determine how much your insurer pays — and the three that most families forget.

Code Compliance5 min read

Altadena fire-hardening code: what's new after the Eaton fire

LA County tightened the WUI code in response to the Eaton fire. Here's the practical list of what your Altadena rebuild now has to include.

Rebuild Guide6 min read

Should you rebuild or sell after a wildfire? A contractor's honest take.

There are four scenarios where rebuilding doesn't pencil. Most families miss two of them. Here's how to actually run the math.

Code Compliance6 min read

Coastal Commission permitting for Malibu fire rebuilds

The Coastal Development Permit is the slowest external dependency on a Malibu rebuild. Here's how to compress it from 9 months to 4.

Insurance5 min read

Why Palisades families are getting 20-30% more from insurance with code-upgrade documentation

The code-upgrade rider is the most under-used line in your policy. Document it right and your insurer pays for the WUI compliance you’d be paying for anyway.

Code Compliance5 min read

Seismic + fire compliance: the dual mandate of hillside rebuilds

Hillside lots above the 500-foot contour now have to satisfy two parallel sets of rules. Here’s how they interact — and where families get blindsided.

Rebuild Guide6 min read

Six architectural styles popular for Palisades rebuilds (and the trade-offs of each)

Transitional, Cape Cod, Modern Coastal, Mid-Century, Craftsman, Mediterranean. Each carries a different cost-per-square-foot and permitting tempo. Here’s a contractor’s honest comparison.

Funding5 min read

SBA disaster loans for Palisades fire victims: what they actually cover (and where they fail you)

Low-interest federal loans up to $500K for homeowners. Helpful as a gap filler — and dangerous if you treat them as a substitute for your insurance settlement.

Funding4 min read

FEMA Individual Assistance after the Palisades fire: what it covers (and what it doesn't)

FEMA IA tops out at ~$42,500 for housing + $42,500 for other needs. Useful for ALE gaps and emergency expenses — not a rebuild fund.

Insurance6 min read

California FAIR Plan vs private insurance after a Palisades fire: which is the right rebuild policy?

If you can’t get a standard policy renewed post-fire, the FAIR Plan is the backstop. It covers the basics — and not much more. Here’s how to wrap it.

Insurance7 min read

Palisades fire insurance claim — week-by-week playbook

The 12-week post-fire window where the moves you make (or skip) determine 60% of your settlement. Here’s the order operations should happen in.

Funding5 min read

Bridge loans during a Palisades fire rebuild: when they save you and when they sink you

Short-term financing that covers the gap between today and your insurance settlement. Cheap if you use it right; expensive if you treat it as a long-term solution.

Insurance5 min read

Code-upgrade rider: the most under-used $200K in your Palisades homeowner’s policy

The code-upgrade rider pays for the WUI compliance you’d be paying for anyway. Most families never invoke it. Here’s the documentation that unlocks it.

Insurance5 min read

ALE (Additional Living Expense) extension during a Palisades rebuild: keeping the hotel-and-rental coverage alive for 18 months

Most ALE policies have a 12 or 24-month cap that families burn through. Here’s how to extend, what to document, and when to fight for more.

Insurance6 min read

Public adjusters for Palisades fire claims: when to hire one, when to skip it

Public adjusters work for you, not your insurance carrier. The good ones earn their 10-15% fee on the first $50K of disputed settlement. The bad ones cost you that and more.

Funding5 min read

Section 121 capital-gains exclusion after losing your Palisades home: the tax move most families miss

If your insurance settlement exceeds your home’s tax basis, you might owe capital gains tax — unless you use Section 121 + the involuntary conversion exclusion together.

Funding5 min read

California property tax relief after the Palisades fire: Prop 50, Prop 19, and the Assessor’s involuntary-loss filing

Your property tax bill doesn’t automatically adjust when your home burns. File the LA County Assessor’s involuntary-loss form to capture the reduction and (in many cases) preserve your Prop 13 base year value on the rebuild.

Funding4 min read

Mortgage forbearance during a Palisades fire rebuild: pause the payment without wrecking your credit

If your home burned and your mortgage didn’t, you’re paying on something you can’t live in. Federal disaster forbearance can pause that for 12+ months. Here’s how to request it without trashing your credit score.

Funding6 min read

Eaton fire rebuild grants for Altadena families: every funding source we’ve identified

Twelve programs offering grants (not loans) for Eaton fire-affected Altadena homeowners. Most are time-limited; some have already closed; here’s the current status.