A scorched lot in Pacific Palisades—where a home once stood before being destroyed in the Palisades Fire—has been sold for nearly $1 million less than a month after the deadly blaze, according to Realtor.com.
The 9,932-square-foot property, located on Avenida de la Herradura, was listed for $999,000 on Jan. 16, just nine days after the fire began. The previous owner had purchased the home in 2005 for $1.54 million, but chose not to rebuild.
Listing agent Richard Schulman of Schulman Team/KW Advisors said the seller made an easy decision to move on, choosing to stay nearby rather than reconstruct the lost home.
Realtor.com identified the buyer as a local investor, with Schulman noting “significant investor interest” in the fire-damaged lot.
The Palisades Fire erupted on the afternoon of Jan. 7, fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds—the strongest the area had experienced in over a decade, according to officials. These intense winds not only accelerated the fire’s spread but also prevented helicopters and planes from responding during the critical first day.
Over the course of seven days, the fire scorched more than 23,000 acres, destroying 6,833 structures and damaging nearly 1,000 others across Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and parts of LA County. Thousands were forced to evacuate, including residents in Bel-Air, Brentwood, and Santa Monica.
Officials are still investigating the cause of the fire, but they have identified Skull Rock, a popular hiking destination north of Sunset Boulevard, as a possible ignition point. Another fire had burned in the same area just six days prior, raising concerns about potential connections.
As the region continues to recover, the sale of fire-ravaged properties like this one highlights investor interest in rebuilding—despite the ongoing risks of wildfires in Southern California.
