This is a good article published on July 17, 2011 and written by Roger Vincent at the L.A. Times about apartments. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-commre-quarterly-apartments-20110717,0,6536545.story The highlights (Cliff’s notes version) are as follows: 1. Apartments are favored class for commercial real estate buyers and builders. 2. Most active construction is likely an apartment building. 3. The sluggish economy has put homeownership out of favor thereby making apartments a more desirable abode for many. 4. Average rents in L.A. and Orange Counties is more than $1,500 per month with expcted 4% per year increases. 5. Very little influx of new renters from foreclosed homes (interesting?)