Now Comes the California Fire Sale: Foreign Companies Snapping Up Burned-Out Real Estate

By The Blogging Hounds California is burning—and not just with wildfires. In the aftermath of last January’s devastating firestorms across Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Altadena, a new crisis is emerging: foreign corporations are quietly buying up the charred remnants of iconic properties, turning human tragedy into a profitable real estate windfall. Failed Leadership Left Californians…

By The Blogging Hounds

California is burning—and not just with wildfires. In the aftermath of last January’s devastating firestorms across Pacific Palisades, Malibu, and Altadena, a new crisis is emerging: foreign corporations are quietly buying up the charred remnants of iconic properties, turning human tragedy into a profitable real estate windfall.

Failed Leadership Left Californians Vulnerable

When the firestorm hit, local leadership was absent. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass was missing in action, the vice mayor faced home confinement for making an anti-Israel threat, fire fighters weren’t pre-deployed, and reservoirs and fire hydrants ran dry. Amid promises of swift recovery and rebuilding, residents were left to fend for themselves.

Now, months later, the promises have mostly gone up in smoke. Burned-out lots are being snapped up for millions, often by foreign investors with deep pockets and long-term visions—while survivors struggle to rebuild.

China-Based Investors Buying Up Malibu

Exclusive reports reveal that Nick and Mat Mowbray, New Zealand businessmen with operations in China and the U.S., are purchasing prime burned lots along Malibu’s La Costa Beach. The duo, known for their toy empire Zuru, plan to rebuild mansions using modular concrete homes shipped from China. So far, they’ve acquired nine lots valued at over $65 million.

“Once this beach is built back and it’s all brand-new construction, it’s going to be a very desirable spot for wealthy buyers,” says luxury real estate agent Weston Littlefield.

While the purchases are legal, the optics are troubling: foreign money is reshaping the iconic West Coast coastline, even as California politicians preach environmental values and social justice.

Altadena Sees Corporate Land Grabs Too

The trend isn’t limited to Malibu. In Altadena, corporations control at least half of the fire-damaged properties, with six companies owning multiple lots each. One notable buyer is Edwin Castro, a local Powerball winner, who is investing millions in fire-damaged real estate.

Other entities, like Sheng Feng Global Inc., hint at international ownership, though the full details remain murky. Critics argue that foreign acquisition of American land after a disaster is a threat to national sovereignty and local communities.

Laws Blocked or Vetoed

California lawmakers have repeatedly blocked attempts to restrict foreign land ownership. Assembly Bill 475 and Senate Bill 224, which would have limited foreign ownership near military installations or agricultural land, failed to pass. Even Senate Bill 1084, which aimed to restrict agricultural land ownership, was vetoed by Governor Gavin Newsom, who claimed the federal government was handling the problem.

Meanwhile, foreign corporations continue buying, leaving many to wonder: Should California protect its citizens—or allow international investors to profit from disaster?

A Fire Sale That Raises Questions About Values

California’s fire sale raises deeper questions about governance, priorities, and national security. While politicians tout “progressive values” and environmental stewardship, they allow foreign investors to buy iconic properties at fire-sale prices, potentially reshaping communities that have existed for generations.

Survivors, meanwhile, face long permit delays and skyrocketing rebuilding costs—a stark contrast to the well-funded foreign buyers waiting in the wings.

The question is no longer hypothetical: who really benefits from California’s disasters—the people who live there, or the corporations waiting to cash in?

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