Research Briefs

A new rent forecast released Tuesday predicts Southern California tenants will face continued rent hikes and falling vacancy rates through 2018.

Orange County apartment rents, already the highest in the region, are forecast to rise by at least $149 a month by the end of 2018, up 9.4 percent from 2015 levels, the USC Casden Multifamily Forecast predicts.

Only San Diego County will see a bigger increase in apartment rents during the next 21/2 years. Rents there are projected to grow by $155 a month, or 10.9 percent, the forecast said.

Sky-high apartment rents in Southern California are expected to climb further in coming years, as construction fails to keep up with population and job growth, according to a forecast released Tuesday.

The average rent in Los Angeles County is expected to hit $1,416 a month in 2018, an 8.3% jump from last year, while in Orange County, average rents are likely to rise 9.4% to an average of $1,736, the USC Casden Multifamily Forecast said.

There is a housing crisis in Southern California, but many communities aren't down with one of the solutions: density.

Advocates suggest a range of alternatives, from creating more affordable apartments to increasing rent subsidies.

Many housing experts argue that it's important to embrace density so more homes are created in less space.

But battles have sprung up throughout SoCal over having neighbors living closer together:

The ICSC Foundation, in partnership with the Gap Inc., is offering one admitted applicant to the 2016 Summer Session of the USC Ross Minority Program a $5000 award towards the tuition and preferential consideration for a 2016 paid internship with Gap Inc., at the company's San Francisco Corporate Offices following completion of the course. During this time, the intern will rotate through three functional areas: construction, operations and real estate.