If you own a home in Los Angeles, odds are your equity is still one of your biggest financial superpowers—no matter what the headlines say.

Over the last several years, home values across Los Angeles have climbed substantially. Even with some moderation and short-term dips in certain pockets, most local homeowners are still far ahead compared to where they started. Recent national reports show:

• Total U.S. homeowner equity in the trillions, with the average mortgaged homeowner still holding well into six figures in equity.
• A very small share of homes in negative equity (“underwater”), thanks to years of price growth.

So if you’re worried your home lost all its gains—take a breath. Let’s walk through why your equity still matters so much.

Quick Refresher: What Is Home Equity?

Home equity = your home’s current market value – what you owe on your mortgage.

As values in Los Angeles have risen over time, and as you’ve paid down your loan, that gap has grown. That’s your built-in buffer—and your built-in advantage.

1. Your Equity Cushions Market Fluctuations

Short-term price shifts or scary national articles don’t erase years of appreciation.

In neighborhoods like Westchester, Kentwood, Loyola Village, and Emerson Manor, long-term demand driven by proximity to:

• LAX
• LMU
• Silicon Beach & Playa Vista
• Major employment and transit hubs

helps support home values over time. That means many local owners still have a healthy cushion, even if prices adjust a bit year to year.

2. Equity Gives You Options (That Renters Don’t Have)

Strong equity in your home can unlock moves that would be tough without it:

• Move-up buy: Use your equity as a larger down payment on a bigger home or a different neighborhood.
• Downsize smarter: Sell, buy something smaller or closer to the beach, and keep more cash in your pocket.
• Life flexibility: Equity can help with major expenses, investments, or a relocation opportunity—without starting from zero.

Renters don’t get this built-in wealth-building; homeowners do.

3. Equity Protects You in a Slower or Shifting Market

If the market cools or your circumstances change (job transfer, growing family, etc.), solid equity can:

• Make it easier to price competitively and still walk away with profit.
• Reduce the risk of being stuck or needing to sell at a loss.
• Help you avoid foreclosure scenarios that were more common in the last housing crash, when many owners had little or no equity.

Today’s owners, especially those who bought before the sharp run-up or have held for several years, are in a much stronger position overall.

4. What This Means If You Own Right Now

If you’re a homeowner, your equity position could be the key to:

• Finally getting that bigger yard, extra bedroom, or office.
• Swapping your current commute for a more convenient location.
• Turning your longtime home into a strategic asset instead of just a monthly payment.

The first step is knowing your numbers—not guessing based on national headlines.

Curious How Far Ahead You Really Are?

Let’s put real numbers to your equity.

As your real estate advisors, we’ll:

• Give you a free, local-market-based equity review (not an automated Zestimate guess),
• Show you what your home could sell for in today’s market,
• Map out options: move up, downsize, invest, or simply stay put with confidence.

Your home equity has been working hard for you. Let’s make sure you’re getting the full benefit.