Source: CNN
As one of the leading voices in Southern California’s real estate industry and star of the Netflix reality show “Selling Sunset,” Jason Oppenheim was quick to find his role in the recovery effort amid the devastating Los Angeles wildfires, which have left thousands of people displaced. He offered his brokerage’s services for free to those who were impacted and was one of the first notable figures to sound the alarm about illegal price gouging.
“Landlords shouldn’t be considering trying to get people to outbid each other right now. That’s not profiting,” Oppenheim told CNN in an interview on Wednesday. “I’m all for free market dynamics but not after a natural disaster. This is not the time to be profiting.”
Oppenheim said he’s had no patience for landlords or property owners looking to take advantage of people who have just lost their homes. He’s not above outright hanging up on those who try, he said, even if it’s somebody he and his team have previously worked with.
Price gouging is illegal under California Penal Code 396, which prohibits landlords and other businesses from raising rents by more than 10% after a state of emergency has been declared.
Several deadly wildfires have set Los Angeles County ablaze since last week. The coastal Palisades Fire and the Eaton Fire, on LA’s East side, have burned tens of thousand of acres and destroyed thousands of structures. At least 25 people have died and dozens are still missing, authorities have said.
With so many of the Oppenheim Group’s real estate clients impacted by these fires, Oppenhiem said his agency is focused on playing their part in the relief effort.
“It’s become 90% of our jobs right now for the near term. And you know what? Eventually the public eyeballs are not going to be on this and that’s when the hard work begins,” Oppenheim said. “This is not something that gets solved because we put somebody in a lease.”
The work continues
On “Selling Sunset,” Oppenhiem and his gaggle of agents primarily deal with high-end clientele and big-budget properties.
But ever since they opened their doors and phone lines to anybody that needs help, Oppeheim said that they’ve received dozens of inquiries at all different price points and have been working to help people with budgets ranging from $5,000 to $40,000 per month.
There’s still so much more work to be done, Oppenheim said, including helping their clients negotiate leases and dealing with lenders and insurance providers. For those who plan to rebuild their homes, Oppenheim’s team has to help them find reliable and credible developers and contractors. Some people may not even have the means to rebuild.
Oppenheim said his and other brokerages in LA will be working on for years to come, especially knowing that they’re up against the challenge of having a large demand in a diminished market.
“There’s no answer to this,” he said. “There are simply too many people and not enough available homes in the areas.”
There are also other more immediate ways that Oppenheim and his team, and several other brokerages across Los Angeles and Orange Counties, are pitching in to help. On Thursday, Oppenheim’s OC office is holding a donation drive where people can bring items like clothes, supplies or pet food and accessories for fire victims.
Oppenheim also announced a $100,000 donation to the LAFD and LAPD.
While he admits this past week has been a whirlwind, it’s also been rewarding.
“I think it’s important to expose and call out bad actors but at the same time, the overwhelming majority of Angelenos have risen to the occasion. There’s a real sense of community and support, especially among the real estate industry,” Oppenheim said. “I’m really proud of how the city has responded and I have zero doubt that we’re going to rebuild.”
How the wildfire destruction will be covered on “Selling Sunset” remains to be seen. Netflix has not officially announced a ninth season, but a representative for Netflix confirmed to CNN that latest season was filming when the fires broke out and production was affected. They are currently figuring out how best to move forward, the spokesperson added.
Though Oppenheim and his agents are safe, as are their homes, some were forced to evacuate and others housed friends and family members who had to do the same.
“If we’re going to be covering it, then we cover it organically and we cover the realities on the ground, if it were up to me,” he said. “I really would like to cover this with sensitivity if we’re going to cover it at all.”
After all, Oppenheim added, “it’s a reality show and this is our reality.”