My cousin lost his home to the California fires
He said there is nothing left.
He is moving back here to Wisconsin, he moved there for the weather, but they lost everything but a carload of stuff.
He said he'll send me a photo of what's left.
A multi-hundred thousand $$$ home, gone.
= new reply since forum marked as read
the value is in the land. I appraised for years in SoCal, including the Ventura-Santa Barabara area, and it's essentially location-location-location.
Second, insurance will for the most part rebuild the improvements.
Even with climate change, the weather will also still be there for all but walk-out properties on the water, including the lovely coastal breezes and cooler temperatures that make coastal communities so desirable. Even with the Pacific warming a bit, it's still cold water.
It's obvious he's hurting, but last I heard there have been no deaths and that's the only thing he wouldn't get over. So, give him time.
Speaking of, I hear this winter in Wisconsin will probably be pretty normal; i.e., perhaps nostalgia will make him glad to leave that nasty California coast behind for good. Selling the land he still owns would buy a whole lot of snow shovels.
Hello, old friend! 
I realize, of course, that many items simply aren't replaceable. Also, as someone mentioned, location is a big deal. I live in Redondo Beach, CA but am currently working in Texas on a project. It pains me to see what is happening right now....
