Jason Oppenheim, founder, CEO and principal broker of ‘Selling Sunset,’ the Oppenheim Group, speaks to Fox News Digital about his office’s aid and support for wildfire victims and their homes, and urges California leaders to eliminate real estate “administrative formalities”.
Jason Oppenheim is doing everything in his power to rally his real estate troops, dig into his own pockets and hold bad actors accountable in hopes of helping California wildfire victims and planning rebuilding efforts .
“We’re really doing what we can to help everyone. And it’s just amazing how many people have been displaced. I’ve been here for decades in Los Angeles, I’ve seen other fires. I don’t I haven’t seen anything so far,” Oppenheim told Fox News Digital on Tuesday.
“We’re all hands on deck right now,” he continued. “Honestly, this might be the busiest week I can think of for us.”
However the best known for selling the ultra-luxurious and high-priced Los Angeles and Orange County properties on hit Netflix shows, the Oppenheim Group has shifted its focus to providing free representation to residents who have lost their homes , organizing donation drives – and for Oppenheim himself, donating $100,000. to LAFD and LAPD first responders and speak out against red tape.
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“Tens of billions of dollars have been spent by the state and the city on things that really don’t make sense,” the top broker said. “We are cutting the budgets of the services and institutions that are most important on the front lines of keeping us safe, like firefighters and police.”
Jason Oppenheim speaks with Fox News Digital about the changes needed and housing priorities to build Southern California back “stronger and better.” (FOXBusiness)
“This is a time to reflect and learn. And there are things we could have done much better.”
Three new wildfires have broken out in Southern California since Monday. dry weather and damaging winds continued to create a high fire danger in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. At least 24 people were killed in the disaster and dozens more are missing.
As of this week, approximately 12,000 structures have been completely destroyed. Recent Wells Fargo analysis found total losses could vary between 20 and 40 billion dollarspotentially marking the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.
Real estate agent Jason Oppenheim explains how he’s trying to help those affected by the California wildfires on “Your World.”
Oppenheim announced last week that all agents will provide free representation to victims until their homes are resurrected, or residents will receive a credit on any commission made in the transactions. He says more than 50 people have contacted him and “dozens” of clients are offering to rent their safe, vacant properties.
Oppenheim also co-led an official letter written by more than 45 of the city’s most profitable agents and sent to Governor Gavin Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, asking them to address restrictive laws and building codes that hamper recovery and rebuilding efforts after wildfires.
“I hope we don’t just add bureaucratic requirements to developers and builders because it’s impossible to build here. We’ve lost so much development,” Oppenheim said. “People are leaving Los Angeles because of the bureaucracy. So I’m hoping we take out some of that stupidity needed to build and some of the extra unfounded costs. And what we’re doing is focusing on things that will actually work and that we really need.”
This includes the increase Equitable Plan insurance coverage to $6 million and adding liability insurance, streamlining building permits, exempting fire victims from real property tax, removing restrictive building codes, ordinances and environmental regulations as well than by suspending property taxes for the victims.
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“We haven’t received any direct response from them. But in their defense, we honestly just sent these letters,” Oppenheim noted. “There is still a lot to be done… Proactive measures are more important than reactive measures. So I hope that in the future we can focus more on proactive measures.”
The process of rebuilding Los Angeles will be “complicated” and will require the real estate industry to “step up” on behalf of its clients, according to Oppenheim. He doesn’t know exactly how much it could cost, but he predicts it could take at least four to five years until California’s leaders “can get their act together.”
“Contractors could benefit from this, they have to answer questions about foundations and retaining walls. Are you kidding me? I’m a licensed contractor and an attorney and I still don’t want to build a house. This is too much complicated,” he warned. “I’m not sure many people will want to take on this project. I hope there will be a way for these people to be reimbursed by their insurers.”
Plumes of smoke are visible as a brush fire burns in Pacific Palisades, California on January 7, 2025. | Getty Images
“It would be great if people could move back into their homes. However, from a practical standpoint,” Oppenheim countered, “we’re going to have to figure out how to allow developers to buy land at fair prices, because there are people in their 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s, I don’t think they will want to take on this project and I don’t think they are well placed to do it either.
But right now, Angelenos and Californians are determined to come together, prioritizing a sense of “camaraderie” and “compassion” to provide needed aid and relief as rescue operations continue.
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“Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles” star Josh Flagg discusses evacuating Los Angeles amid flames on “The Claman Countdown.”
“It’s easy to focus on the looter, the bad apple or the owner who practices abusive prices… But I think the city has galvanized itself, and it’s beautiful to watch… Americans in general, I don’t think there’s a country whose citizens are more resilient and more willing to let themselves be knocked down and rise stronger,” Oppenheim said.
“We’re not just going to rebuild, but we’re absolutely going to build back stronger and better. I think if you look at just about everything that happens to an American, they get up, wipe out and come back stronger.” So that’s what Los Angeles is going to do. “
Fox News staff contributed to this report.
