This document provides an overview and forecast of the 2012 California housing market from the Chief Economist at Leslie Appleton-Young. It summarizes that the US and California economies faced challenges in 2011 including oil price spikes, sovereign debt crisis, and political changes that contributed to stock market volatility and consumer spending weakness. Unemployment remains high in California and the US. Job growth was flat in August and California job growth is faltering, with the largest job losses in construction and financial activities. The forecast anticipates continued challenges for the 2012 California housing market.