California's housing market continues to spiral out of control, exemplified by a recent sale of a burned-out house in Torrance, Los Angeles, for $1 million. This three-bedroom, two-bath home, which has been vacant since a fire incident in February 2024, sold for 2% above its listing price, despite being unlivable due to significant fire damage. The transaction underscores a severe housing shortage in California, with the median price of a 'mid-tier' home reaching $775,000, more than double the national average of $366,000. Outgoing Governor Gavin Newsom has enacted several measures to boost housing supply, including legislation promoting the construction of accessory dwelling units. However, experts like Eric McGhee from the Public Policy Institute of California express skepticism about whether these reforms are effectively increasing housing availability. Current estimates suggest California needs an additional 2.2 million housing units to meet demand, exacerbated by local government restrictions on new developments. McGhee advocates for simplifying the housing construction process to address this long-term crisis.