If it feels like Long Beach is under constant construction, you’re not imagining it. Long Beach housing development has accelerated as new projects get approved across the city, and the pace has picked up significantly in recent years.
But here’s the part many buyers and homeowners don’t realize until they dig into the details: a lot of the “new housing” people are noticing isn’t the kind of housing that adds more traditional, for-sale homes to the market. Much of it is rental housing, and a meaningful share is income-restricted affordable housing designed to serve specific community needs.
That distinction matters, especially if you’re trying to buy a home in Long Beach and wondering why inventory still feels tight.
Over 5,000 New Units Approved Since 2023
Between January 1, 2023 and November 30, 2025, the City of Long Beach approved entitlements for 5,210 housing units, including 1,117 affordable units. Compared to the prior three-year period (2020–2022), that’s a major increase: 2,111 units were approved then.
In other words, approvals are up sharply — and the city expects totals to rise even more once December 2025 numbers are added.
“More Housing” Doesn’t Always Mean “More Homes for Sale”
When people talk about development, they often assume new construction equals more opportunities to buy a house. In Long Beach, that’s not necessarily how it’s playing out.
The city’s highlighted pipeline shows that many upcoming projects are:
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affordable apartment communities
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supportive housing for people who’ve experienced homelessness
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housing geared toward older adults with lower incomes
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rental-focused developments
These projects serve a vital purpose, and they can help more residents find stable housing. But they don’t directly increase the supply of typical for-sale homes the way many buyers expect when they hear “they’re building a lot.”
What’s Being Built in 2026 (And What It Tells Us)
The City shared three affordable developments that will be under construction heading into 2026, including:
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Supportive housing for people who have experienced homelessness
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Affordable senior apartments
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Habitat for Humanity townhomes aimed at helping low-income families reach homeownership
They also expect to break ground on five more affordable projects in 2026 — again, mostly rental apartment communities with affordability requirements.
Why This Matters for Buyers (and Prices)
If you’re looking at Long Beach homes for sale, especially in high-demand neighborhoods, you’ve likely seen:
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limited listing inventory
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strong competition for well-priced homes
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prices that don’t “cool off” as much as you’d expect for a city that’s building
One reason is simple: more rental supply doesn’t relieve pressure on the for-sale market the same way more for-sale inventory would. Even when the total unit count rises, buyers can still be competing over the same relatively small pool of homes that come up for sale.
One Area That Is Adding Flexible Housing: ADUs
Where Long Beach has been especially active is ADUs (Accessory Dwelling Units) — garage conversions, backyard cottages, and similar additions.
The city reports ADU permits rising year over year, including a record 747 ADU permits in 2024.
For homeowners and buyers, ADUs can create real options:
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space for multigenerational living
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rental income potential
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long-term flexibility as needs change
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added property value in many cases
The Bottom Line
Long Beach is approving more housing than it has in years, and that is meaningful. But if you are expecting that construction activity to translate into a flood of new, traditional homes for sale, the reality is more nuanced.
A large share of development is focused on rentals and affordable housing, which supports community stability and access. But it does not automatically increase the number of typical homes hitting the resale market. That is why it can still feel competitive to buy here even in the middle of a building boom.
If you are trying to make sense of what is being built near you and what it means for buying, selling, or investing in Long Beach, connect with The Elmer Team to walk through the trends and how they connect to your specific neighborhood and goals.
