California’s largest hikes in home-repair costs last year were found in communities near the horrific January 2025 wildfires across Los Angeles.
My trusty spreadsheet reviewed a repair cost index from Verisk that tracks 12-month swings in labor and material expenses dating to 2013 for 34 California markets.
In Los Angeles, research shows repairs became 8.4% more expensive in 2025, the largest jump in the state. That followed 2024’s 5.9% increase (also No. 1) and the 5% average pace of increases in 2013 through 2024 (No. 5).
San Fernando costs rose 6.7% in 2025 (No. 2 statewide) vs. 2024’s 3.3% increase, the previous year (No. 11), and 4.7% average gain 2013-24 (No. 15).
Simi Valley costs were up 4.2% last year (No. 4 statewide) vs. a 3% increase the previous year (No. 18) and 4.6% average gain 2013-24 (No. 18).
Surging repair costs don’t just hit victims of wildfires that destroyed roughly 12,000 structures in Pacific Palisades and Altadena.
The increased demand for workers and supplies needed for wildfire reconstruction boosted construction costs for any local property owner looking to fix, expand or upgrade a home. Plus, costlier repairs put upward pressure on home insurance rates.
Consider that the median increase across the 12 Southern California markets in the study was 4% last year, up from 2.9% in 2024 but off from a 4.5% average pace of increases in 2013 through 2024.
In the 22 markets outside Southern California, the median repair costs rose by only 2.2% last year, down from a 3% gain in 2024 and an average annual increase of 4.7% in 2013-24.
Other Southern California markets among the state’s biggest jumps were:
– No. 5 Santa Barbara: Up 4.1% last year vs. 2.9% increase in 2024 (No. 20) and 4.5% average gain in 2013-24 (No. 26).
– No. 6 Ventura: Up 4.1% last year vs. 2024’s 2.5% increase (No. 31) and 5% 2013-24 gain (No. 4).
– No. 7 Victorville: Up 4.1% last year vs. 2024’s 2.6% increase (No. 29) and 4.2% 2013-24 gain (No. 34).
– No. 8 San Bernardino: Up 3.9% last year vs. 2024’s 2.7% increase (No. 26) and 4.4% 2013-24 gain (No. 30).
– No. 10 Orange County: Up 3.7% last year (No. 10) vs. 2024’s 2.9% increase (No. 21) and 4.6% 2013-24 gain (No. 21).
– No. 11 San Diego: Up 3.6% last year (No. 11) vs. 2024’s 3% increase (No. 17) and 5% 2013-24 gain (No. 6).
Jonathan Lansner is the business columnist for the Southern California News Group. He can be reached at jlansner@scng.com