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Well Preserved Palmer & Krisel in Noho Hits the Market

Thursday, July 31, 2014 / No Comments
Images courtesy Rodeo Realty
12758 Hartland Street
3 Beds/1.75 Baths on 1,428 sqft on a total lot size of 8,291 sqft built in 1954. The home was listed for sale on July 23, 2014 for $439,000. The listing description states the home was designed by notable architects William Krisel and Dan Palmer who designed mid century modern homes for the Alexander Construction Company. They designed throughout Los Angeles primarily in Palm Springs and San Diego. Another home down the street was featured on this blog which sold for $552,000 in May 2014. Palmer and Krisel lso designed the Corbin Palms (and here) community in Woodland Hills off of Victory and Corbin. Some of their Woodland Hills examples have been featured on this blog herehere, and here as well as in Van Nuys by Krisel here. The listing description states: 
This is a bright and airy, classic mid-century modern home designed by renowned architects William Krisel and Dan Palmer, and features their signature post-and-beam construction, open floor plan, floor-to-ceiling glass and clerestory windows. It also features a seamless indoor-outdoor flow to the spacious back yard with gleaming pool, fig trees and table grapes. The fourth bedroom/den opens to the partially covered lanai for year-round outdoor living and entertaining. The light-filled, comfortable space boasts beautifully refinished hardwood floors and kitchen cabinets, new kitchen flooring, a Maytag gas oven, O'Keefe & Merritt gas range, new interior and exterior paint, and a wood burning fireplace. The roof is new, as are the sprinklers. The Master Bedroom has three ample closets, and the two adjoining bedrooms have a floor-to-ceiling view to the pool and backyard, as do the living and dining rooms. This beautiful home is situated on a lovely, tree-lined cul-de-sac with other Krisel designed and built homes. This home is for those that want to truly live the classic Southern California life style. Come see this one.
You can view more SFV Architecture and Real Estate here.



















Celeb R.E.: America's Favorite Comedian Jeff Dunham Settles Down in Hidden Hills

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Images courtesy Ewing Sotheby's International Realty
Back on June 25, 2014, the always hilarious Your Mama at the Realestalker (Variety) disclosed that "America's favorite comedian" according to Slate.com, Jeff Dunham, has just purchased a Hidden Hills mansion on May 9, 2014 for $4,033,000. 

Dunham is best known for his ventriloquism which has developed popular muppet characters like Walter, Jose Jalapeno on a Stick, Achmed the Dead Terrorist, and Achmed Junior amongst others. Dunham has been performing since a teenager but didnt get his big break until 2003 performing on Comedy Central Presents. Dunham is ranked as the third highest paying comedian behind Jerry Seinfeld and Chris Rock. 

The home measures 6 Beds/6.25 Baths on 7,204 sqft on a total lot size of 2.30 acres built in 1990. The listing description states:
Stunning Robert L. Earl masterpiece built by CSL Development steeped in understated elegance & privately situated on approximately 2.3 acres with breathtaking views from both the interior & the grounds of the property. The 6 bedroom, 7.5 bathroom residence, including a casita, offers a prime center hall floor plan with graceful rooms, wonderful symmetry & proportions, & beautiful style in turnkey condition. The residence is perfect for entertaining yet exudes warmth throughout. The exceptional entertainment areas include a balance of sophistication & comfort & includes a library, dramatic living room, & banquet-sized formal dining room. The gourmet kitchen features top of the line appliances & large center island. Three large bedroom suites including a sumptuous master suite with dual bathrooms comprise the upstairs. Two large additional bedroom suites are located on the main level. The grounds are professionally landscaped. Breathtaking panoramic views enhance the party-sized rear grounds with its sparkling pool and spa, convenient barbecue center & sweeping lawns. The gently sloping hillside offers many possibilities. This estate is a modern interpretation of a classic design for today?s lifestyle.
Dunham enjoys living in the SFV as he also owns home in Encino with previous residences in Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, and another Encino home. Its also possible he rented a Sherman Oaks apartment when he first started but that information cannot be verified. 

Image courtesy Bing Maps
Starting with the currently owned Encino home (shown above) which measures 6 Beds/7 Baths on 6,522 sqft on a total lot size of 0.42 acres built in 2008 and purchased on July 8, 2009 for $4,250,000. No idea what Dunham plans to do with this property but its possible it will be listed soon on the open market. 

Image courtesy Google Maps
Image courtesy Bing Maps
Moving on to the other Encino home (shown above) which measures 5 Beds/4 Baths on 3,644 sqft on a total lot size of 0.42 acres built in 1961. This home was purchased on June 20, 1994 shortly after the 1994 Northridge earthquake in January of that year and after Dunham started to build his career with his first appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1990. Dunham sold this home 10 years later on March 17, 2004 for $1,090,000 pocketing a cool $600,000 before expenses. 

Image courtesy Coldwell Banker 
After three years into owning the first Encino home, Dunham purchased a mansion behind the gates of Mulholland Park in Tarzana (shown above). The home measures 6 Beds/6.5 Baths on 5,487 sqft on a total lot size of 0.52 acres built in 1997. This home was purchased on June 19, 1997 for $934,000 and later sold on December 23, 2011 for $1,745,000 earning a profit of 811,000 before expenses. 

Image courtesy Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices
Its possible that the capital gains from the sale were split with Dunham's ex-wife, Paige Brown who divorced in 2008 and ended up purchasing a Sherman Oaks home that was previously owned by actor James Cromwell best known for playing roles in Babe, Star Trek: First Contact, and the Revenge of the Nerds series as "Mr Skolnick." The home measures 6 Beds/8 Baths on 4,931 sqft on a total lot size of 0.72 acres built in 1937. Cromwell purchased this property on April 27, 1999 for $1.1 million and later sold to a non-celebrity couple on June 23, 2005 for $2,250,000 for an amazing gain of $1,150,000 before expenses. The non-celebrity couple then sold to Brown for $2,469,500 on February 1, 2011. 

You can view more SFV Celeb R.E. here.  

Celeb R.E.: NoHo Native Brian Austin Green and Megan Fox Purchase Bing Crosby's Carriage House in Toluca Lake

Wednesday, July 30, 2014 / 1 Comment



Image courtesy John Aaroe Group
Back on June 23, 2014, the faboulous folks at Trulia Luxe Living revealed that Beverly Hills 90210 star, Brian Austin Green, and his wife of Transformers fame, Megan Fox, purchased the Bing Crosby Carriage house in Toluca Lake for $3,350,000 on June 10, 2014. 

Since they duo purchased Crosby's carriage house which by definition was typically a small building housing coaches and carriage, this means that the original Bing Crosby home is located next door which was discussed on this blog when it last changed hands in December 2011 for $4.020 million. I am not sure how much of the original carriage home remains today so hopefully it hasnt changed much since the 30's. 

The home measures 4 Beds/6 Baths on 6,710 sqft on a total lot size of 0.96 acres built in 1936. The listing description states:
Bing Crosby's original Carriage House situated on approximately an acre. 100' curving driveway leads you between gorgeous century old oak trees and olive trees to a contemporary ranch house. No expense spared with a remodel in 2008. This 6,710 sq. ft. (not including the 563 sq. ft. pool house) one story home is an architectural wonder. The main room is a spacious area with exposed beams and quartz slate floors. The kitchen has an Australian opal granite island that offers seating. Formal dining room on a Brazilian cherry hardwood floor. The library provides ample shelf space and an electric skylight. The recreation room is ideal for indoor activity. Master suite includes a 2nd story loft of 600+/- Sq. Ft. and separate his and hers dressing rooms and bathrooms. Sonos Sound System for entire property. The back yard features a saline pool and jacuzzi, and a fire pit. Spacious pool house with its own kitchen and bathroom.
Fox/Green are in the middle of unloading their Los Feliz mansion which was also discussed at Trulia Luxe Living back on May 27, 2014 which helps explain the reason for the new home purchase in addition to Fox/Green's newest son born on February 12, 2014. 

Image courtesy Bing Maps
Most people may not know this but Green is a valley native born in Van Nuys and was raised in North Hollywood not too far from his new home. And as a matter of fact, the home he was raised in is still owned by his parents George and Joyce Green. The home (shown above) measures 2 Beds/1 Bath on 1,276 sqft on a total lot size of 6,750 sqft built in 1932 and was purchased on November 27, 1972 for $37,000 (yes, $37,000!) about 9 months before Green was born. Green also attended North Hollywood high school and I am also guessing the local area schools as well. 

And on a related note, Brian Austin Green is the third 90210 star to live in the Toluca Lake area with Jennie Garth living in a Paul Williams designed home previously owned by Tex and John Ritter and later sold on April 24, 2013 for $3.99 million to The Big Bang Theory co-creator Bill Pray discussed here. Also, Jason Priestly lived in Toluca Lake but sold his home on April 24, 2014 for $2 million and moved to Studio City paying $2,720,000 on May 12, 2014. 

You can view more SFV Celeb R.E. here

Former Toluca Lake Yacht Club Home Hits the Market

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Image courtesy Deasy/Penner & Partners
4 Beds/3 Baths on 2,593 sqft on a total lot size of 0.32 acres built in 1948 in Toluca Lake. The home is currently listed for sale at $1,450,000 which was first listed on June 9, 2014 and almost had a buyer but that didnt pan out with the house heaved back on the market on July 28, 2014.  

I am not going to lie but never heard about this one and according to the listing, this home was known as the Toluca Lake Yacht Club which formerly a restaurant/bar known as the Boathouse frequented by stars such as Humphrey Bogart, Bob Hope, Howard Hughes, and Frankie Avalon. Kinda hard to believe this was a popular hangout in a residential neighborhood but trusting the seller and listing agent with this infomation. 

The listing description states:
Situated on what was originally 10 acres of land called the Toluca Lake Yacht Club, this ranch-style compound was formerly a restaurant/bar known as the Boathouse - a local hotspot frequented by stars such as Humphrey Bogart, Bob Hope, Howard Hughes and Frankie Avalon. Aside from the main residence, the property includes a studio/office, guest house, pool and large lot with fruit trees; a unique rehab/investment opportunity.
You can view more SFV Architecture and Real Estate here.












Celeb R.E.: The Michael Jackson Estate Finally Purchases Calabasas Mansion for Mother and Kids

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Back on June 24, 2014, the always informative Lauren Beale at LAT Hot Property revealed that the Michael Jackson estate purchased the Calabasas home for Katherine Jackson (84 year old mother of the late Michael Jackson) for $10.75 million that she had been renting for about $26,000 per month since December 2010 for her grandchildren including MJ's kids; Prince Michael I, Paris Katherine, and Prince Michael II (aka "Blanket"). 

At the time of this writing, the property records dont show a change of hands but the LAT mentioned that the seller was Kassabian Design Build who first built the Tuscan style home based on a trip to Tuscany, Italy that inspired the designer, Diko Kassabian. 

The home measures 7 Beds/11 Baths on 12,670 sqft on a total lots size of 0.88 acres built in 2008. The listing description used at the time it was first listed back on July 2011:
THE ESTATES AT THE OAKS. MAGNIFICENT CUSTOM MEDITERRANEAN WITH PANORAMIC VIEWS. PRIME LOCATION ON THE TOP STREET. FEATURES FULL GUESTHOUSE, CUSTOM THEATRE, PANELED STUDY, LOFT/GAME ROOM, WINE ROOM WITH REFRIGERATED CELLAR & BAR, STELLAR GOURMET KITCHEN W/PROFESSIONAL QUALITY APPLIANCES, SUPERB MASTER WITH HIS & HER BATHS, PRIVATE PATIO & HUGE CUSTOM CLOSETS. SUPERBLY FINISHED THROUGHOUT. THE IRON/GLASS ENTRY DOORS OPEN INTO A WORLD OF ELEGANCE. AMENITIES INCL. A GORGEOUS DOUBLE STAIRCASE, LIMESTONE & HICKORY FLOORS, ALDER DOORS/CABINETS, STEAM SHOWER, SAUNA, ELEVATOR, CRESTRON HOME AUTOMATION SYSTEM, 5-CAR GARAGE, 5-PATIOS, BBQ CENTER, DISAPPEARING GLASS DOORS THAT OPEN TO SWEEPING VIEWS, PUTTING GREEN, SPARKLING POOL, LUSH LANDSCAPING & MORE.
The Jackson family moved to this Calabasas home after the infamous Hayvenhurst house was undergoing renovation with the plan for the family to move back but that never happened so I am now wondering what is going on with probably the most famous house in Encino.  I talked at length about the Jackson family in living in the SFV including Calabasas back in 2011 here

You can view more SFV Celeb R.E. here