Market Intelligence: Q1 California Update
At the epicenter of the AI and tech industry boom is California’s Bay Area, which is experiencing a subsequent surge in apartment demand. Southern California, meanwhile, presents a mixed performance picture—ranging from slow-and-steady conditions in Orange County and select Los Angeles suburbs to acute demand challenges in San Diego and hyperlocal supply headwinds in Los Angeles’ urban core.
What other factors will influence California’s 2026 apartment market outlook? And what are economists and industry analysts most focused on as they assess statewide supply and demand dynamics? Join Carl Whitaker, RealPage Vice President & Chief Economist, and Adam Couch, RealPage Market Research Analyst, for an in-depth webcast examining the forces shaping apartment performance across the nation’s most populous state. Drawing on RealPage’s proprietary data and market expertise, Carl and Adam will break down how shifting supply pipelines, demand drivers, and performance metrics are setting the stage for 2026.
Carl Whitaker is RealPage’s Chief Economist, leading the company's team of economists and market analysts. Carl and the Market Intelligence team specialize in analyzing and disseminating economic and market trends for the rental housing industry. He primarily focuses on presenting trends in the rental housing industry to a wide audience, including investors, asset managers, operations professionals and media, among other personas. Carl has been cited in the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and GlobeSt and is a frequent keynote speaker for industry events. Carl holds degrees from the University of North Texas, including a Master of Science in Applied Geography.
Adam Couch
Research Analyst, RealPage, Inc.Adam Couch specializes in residential housing research and advanced analytics, with a focus on risk assessment, emerging trends, capital markets, and demographic shifts across the multifamily sector. He develops forward‑looking research into strategic recommendations that guide executive decision‑making across investment, portfolio strategy, and operations through market cycles and changing economic conditions. Adam has spoken at commercial real estate conferences, been cited in The Dallas Morning News, and previously advised Fannie Mae on multifamily asset management strategy.
