Will Southern California Continue to Gain Population?

Southern California might not continue to grow:

"We can't build enough houses at the right price for the majority of people," said Bill Rattazzi, president of John Laing Homes' LA/Ventura Division.

Rattazzi has lost about 10 percent of his workers, among them receptionists and middle-managers, who moved out of the region in order to afford their American Dream.

That concerns Jack Kyser, chief economist for the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp., who said continued high home prices could make it difficult for some businesses to relocate to Southern California and for existing employers to recruit qualified workers from outside the area.

And, the region could start losing some of its skilled young people, who decide to move to Arizona, Nevada or other states where they can afford to buy a house.

"Is there anything being done to solve the problem? The answer is no. We've boxed ourselves in, all we can develop is high-end stuff.It's a real concern," Kyser said.

Will California keep gaining population? Don't bet on it if things don't change somewhat.