OpenHouse LA Films Pacific Palisades Home

Update: LXTV/OpenHouse LA filmed one of Rodeo Realty’s listings in Pacific Palisades today! We don’t have a firm air date yet, but stay tuned, because this house is incredible. Many thanks to the film crew and producer for spending the day today at the property. Here’s the basic information on the listing.

Joe Babajian of Rodeo Realty and Bachir Oueida of Nelson Shelton & Associates are co-listing the 11,000 square foot architectural property.  Built in 2010, it sits on a ¾ acre lot that is elevated and poised against the mountain.  Mature Oak and Sycamore trees provide unmatched privacy and serenity.

The resort-like estate boasts 7 bedrooms and 9 baths, showroom quality kitchen, extra large formal living and dining rooms with 14-foot ceilings, media and game room, an approx. 6,000 sq. ft. flat grassy back yard plus an incredible 20′ x 40′ zero-edge pool, spa, bbq and outdoor bar.

It has a spectacular rooftop sun deck with  panoramic views, ocean breezes and an additional bbq and fire pit. The discreet gated entry and long drive opens into a large motorcourt plus a 4-car garage. The estate is on the market for $14,950,000.

Kelly Rutherford West Hollywood Bungalow

Kelly Rutherford, who stars as character Lily van der Woodsen on the hit television show “Gossip Girl,” has listed her Spanish-style bungalow in West Hollywood for $1,299,000. The home is also available for lease at $4,995 per month. Michelle Ficarra of Rodeo Realty in Beverly Hills is the listing agent.

The Los Angeles Times included the home in its Hot Properties section. To see the story visit: http://www.latimes.com/features/home/la-hm-hotprop-kelly-rutherford-20110503,0,1750092.story

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Built in 1926, the two bedroom, 1.75 bath home’s centerpiece is a cozy living room with fireplace that opens into a sky-lit dining room. The gourmet kitchen offers limestone counters, Sub-Zero and Viking appliances.

The home has an abundance of windows through-out, natural light, wood floors, security system and a converted garage that’s perfect for an office or home gym. The outdoor space includes a huge deck with outdoor bar/built-in-barbeque surrounded by lush tropical gardens.
Prior to “Gossip Girl,” Rutherford starred opposite Benjamin Bratt and Dennis Hopper in the Jerry Bruckheimer series “E-Ring” on NBC. A few of her other credits include starring in: “Melrose Place” for three seasons; the Emmy and Golden Globe nominated 40’s drama “Homefront;” and the comedy “Brisco County Jr.”

In film, Rutherford appeared in “Scream 3,” “I Love Trouble” with Julia Roberts and Nick Nolte, and the independent film “Swimming Upstream.

Home of the Week: Wine Lovers Estate in Sonoma

Are you a wine lover? Or better yet…a wine country lover? If so, you have to check out this estate in Sonoma, Calif. It comes with a one-acre vineyard of certified organic Malbec grapes.

 
The home is situated on a private 3.3 acre gated estate located in one of the most desirable areas of Sonoma, just minutes to the plaza. The renovated (2005) two story, six bedroom (5 ensuites) home includes the finest quality materials.
The exterior features park-like grounds including a large heated pool, tennis court, 1 bedroom guest house, one-acre certified organic Malbec vineyard, fruit trees, gym/sauna. Ron Wolotzky of Rodeo Realty in Beverly Hills is the listing agent. The property is priced at $4,495,000.

Rodeo Realty's Ranking on the Real Trends 500 Survey

The results are in from the annual Real Trends 500 survey, which ranks the 500 largest residential real estate brokerage firms in the U.S.
The survey results are a combination of independents and franchises. Rodeo Realty ranks #41 nationwide for closed sales volume in calendar year 2010.

Here is a breakdown of the top 50 firms.

Rodeo Realty on the Sunset Strip

Melissa Zee of Rodeo Realty’s Sunset Strip office just unveiled a new billboard at the intersection of La Cienega Blvd. and Sunset. It includes a great photo of Zee, contact information, and, of course, the Rodeo Realty shield and name. Check it out:

Who is Melissa Zee? She’s a top-notch real estate professional, all-round cool person, and somebody who has great insight about real estate on the Westside of L.A. For more information visit: http://www.melissazee.com/

Rodeo Realty opened its 10,000 square foot Sunset Strip office back in January 2011. Since then, office manager Fred Henry has recruited some of the Westside’s best real estate talent, including Zee. A couple months ago Rodeo unveiled another billboard on the Strip.

In other news, Rodeo is placing the finishing touches on its new 13,000 square foot Beverly Hills office. In fact, agents are beginning to move-in tomorrow (April 28). Stay tuned for some great photos and information about the new 202 N. Canon Drive 90210 real estate hub.

Smart Home in Pacific Palisades

Home automation is growing in popularity, especially as digital technology evolves. The idea is to interconnect and remotely control electronic devices in a house,  such as lighting, air conditioning, security and other devices, from a centralized computer or Internet enabled telephone.
In its simplest form, home automation is convenient for the homeowner and cool for the tech hobbyist. He/she can do things like adjust the thermostat, or turn on music, well before arriving home. But some people also consider the technology to be a boon for energy efficiency and the whole concept of the smart energy grid. Actress Jennifer Aniston is even known for having incorporated smart home technology into her multi-million dollar California residence.

That said, Joe Babajian of Rodeo Realty and Bachir Oueida of Nelson Shelton & Associates just co-listed an 11,000 square foot architectural property in Pacific Palisades that has extensive smart home technology. You can manage  lights, media, fireplaces, AC/heat, and the home’s 12-foot Fleetwood pocket doors and screens with the touch of a finger.

The estate is on the market for $14,950,000. Joe Babajian can be reached at (310) 623-8800. Bachir Oueida can be contacted at (310) 722-7727.

3457 Knoll Drive Architectural

Here’s a really fun architectural home that Tom Otero of Rodeo Realty recently listed. Located in Lake Hollywood Knolls, the home was designed by the late Lorand West, an award winning architect who designed L.A. restaurants such as Morton’s, The Ivy and Trumps, according to the L.A. Times.

West built the house in 1959 as his personal residence. In fact, the circular roof was originally designed to be a helicopter landing pad. The next owner, Marc Christian MacGinnis, worked with his partner to add the second story on top of what was once the landing pad. They also added the Frank Lloyd Wright inspired interiors.

Check out the YouTube video. Very chic!
The two-story, 3,287 square foot, 3 bedroom, 2.75 bath mid-century contemporary has a wall of glass in the living room, city/mountain/canyon views, and a circular double-sided fireplace. The master suite’s bath has a custom shower with six heads and steam. Stainless steel, custom cabinetry, and views complete the kitchen space.
Other features include: a media/recording/entertaining room with large power viewing screen, projector, reclining theater chairs, and surround sound speakers; and an entertainer’s backyard with saltwater pool, colored fountains and multi-level large patio decks. The home is located in close proximity to five major studios.
Tom Otero of Rodeo Realty is the listing agent. The house is priced at $1,399,000.

High-end Rental Market in Los Angeles

The Los Angeles Times published a great story today about the high-end leasing market in the greater Los Angeles area. Cary Hoffman, manager of Rodeo Realty’s Encino office, and Carol Wolfe, top producing agent from the Encino office, were quoted.

The article also included photos of the home of one of Carol Wolfe’s clients, Benny Borsakian. Benny was quoted too.



Cary Hoffman



Carol Wolfe

Lease offerings priced at more than $10,000 a month were up 15% through the first part of April over the same period last year on the Combined L.A./Westside Multiple Listing Service, while those in the $7,500-to-$10,000 price range saw a 7% increase, said the L.A. Times. 

 
OCHouseRentals.com, which specializes in luxury leases, reports that business has been brisk in Orange County as well.

Here’s one of the quotes from Cary Hoffman:

“We’re seeing increased leasing across the board — both luxury and non-luxury properties,” said Cary Hoffman, manager of Rodeo Realty’s Encino office, which has more than 70 agents and listings from the Westside to the south San Fernando Valley.


Rodeo Realty at the Beijing Real Estate Expo

Yan Yan Zhang of Rodeo Realty’s Beverly Hills office is currently in China at the 2011 Beijing Real Estate Expo.
More than 10,000 investors are expected  to attended the event. Yan Yan has a booth -complete with Rodeo Realty signage- to promote her listings and other Los Angeles area properties.
The Expo attracts vendors from more than 20 countries and regions, including the United States, Australia, Canada, Britain, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong.
YanYan advertises her properties quite a bit in Chinese publications and frequently travels to China to meet potential clients and get referrals. She also facilitates presentations both nationally and internationally on topics ranging from how to find income properties under the market, to the business of 1031 tax deferral strategies.
She speaks Chinese Mandarin fluently and attended Beijing University and the Beijing National Sports Academy. Outside of real estate, Yan Yan has worked on stage at both the Academy Awards and the American Music Awards. She can be contacted at (310) 724-7100 or YanYan@rodeore.com

Dodsworth in Rome by Tim Egan

Tim Egan, Rodeo Realty’s graphic designer, is also a successful author and illustrator of 16 children’s books published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

He just released a new book, the fourth in his Dodsworth series, titled “Dodsworth in Rome.” The books are about the adventures and misadventures of a mouse -the title character- and his duck companion.
If you have children, or are just looking for a good chuckle, check out the books at: http://www.amazon.com/Dodsworth-Rome-Tim-Egan/dp/0547390068/ref=pd_sim_b_4 . You can also visit: http://www.timegan.com/
Here’s a cute animated short for Dodsworth. Egan did all of the artwork and digital animation.