Eric Wong This demand for tax credits comes at a time when Southern California apartment rents and occupancy rates have risen to be among the highest nationwide, according to the Casden Real Estate Economics Forecast released by the University of Southern California Lusk Center for Real Estate. “The recent run-up in home prices makes apartment living more desirable,” said Delores Conway, director of the Casden Forecast. “And the tight supply of land coupled with more condo conversions means fewer available units.”