Category: luxury real estate

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Rodeo Realty Agent Ben Bacal Helps Megan Ellison Make A Big Buy

MellisonlandFilm producer Megan Ellison (she’s a producer on “American Hustle” among many other credits) is also a mover and shaker on the real estate scene and Rodeo Realty agent Ben Bacal helped her with some of the biggest transactions in the Los Angeles area. As the Los Angeles Times reported, first Ellison sold her three-house compound in Hollywood Hills West for close to $47 million, and now she has spent $20 million on a mansion and $10 million on adjacent land to create a nine-acre mountaintop estate in the same community. Ellison’s new retreat includes a contemporary house built in 1990 that has over 10,000 square feet of spa.

 

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Rodeo Realty Wins At Luxury Real Estate Awards

LRE Award Winner IconRodeo Realty founder and President Syd Leibovitch attended the Luxury Real Estate conference in Atlanta last week as a member of the Board of Regents. Syd spoke at the Regents conference on his strategy for international marketing. Because Los Angeles is one of the most popular cities for foreign buyers, Rodeo Realty has developed a top notch strategy for attracting and catering to these valuable clients.

The conference also features the Luxury Real Estate Awards. At this event Rodeo Realty picked up the award for Best Brand Integration for 2013. Congratulations to all the winners and we look forward to the next conference. The full press release is below:

 

Rodeo Realty Honored with Prestigious Award

at the 18th Annual Luxury Real Estate Fall Conference

SEATTLE – (October 17th 2013) – Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate hosted the 18th Annual Luxury Real Estate Fall Conference in Atlanta, GA, USA October 6th-9th at the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead. The conference is a meeting of international luxury real estate brokers who come together several times per year to network, share their collective business insight and discuss the state of the global real estate market. Awards, a key part of the event, are given in recognition for the successes of the network.

Rodeo Realty was honored with the ‘Best Brand Integration’ award which is given to the Luxury Real Estate member or company that consistently displays the Board of Regents and/or Luxury Real Estate logo and brand in conjunction with their own brand. As a member of the Board of Regents, Rodeo Realty utilizes an array of powerful marketing solutions for growing and promoting their already successful real estate business.

Discussions at the conference covered multiple topics of great interest to those who serve the high net-worth demographic, with a particular emphasis on market trends, technology solutions and recent innovations in the industry. Syd Leibovitch of Rodeo Realty discussed ‘Working in an International Market’. Other sessions included topics such as ‘What do Buyers & Sellers Want Now?’, ‘Creative Strategies for Real Estate Lead Generation’, ’Business in China’, and ‘Digital Marketing: Selling your properties, yourself, your lifestyle’. Featured Speakers included Jeff Hoffman, Entrepreneur and Founder of Priceline.com as well as Jim “Murph” Murphy, Founder of Afterburner Inc.

Other award winners include the Lifetime Achievement Award: Jenny Pruitt, Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty; Best App: Lawrence Realty; Best Digital Marketing: Gardner Realtors; Best Industry Networking: Todd & Scott Cutter, 2Costa Rica Real Estate; Best Overall Marketing Package: Harry Norman Realtors; Best Print Marketing: Daniel Gale Sotheby’s International Realty; Best Website: Stribling & Associates; Billionaires Club: John Daugherty, Diane Turton, Audrey Ross, Carrie Wells, Rob Kildow; Extraordinary Philanthropist: Sheryl Chinowth; Master Networker: Tim Murray, Denise Pruitt, Brian Hazen, John Stough, Elizabeth Ann Stribling-Kivlan, Rob Thomson; Most Valued Partner: Wall Street Journal; Outstanding Social Media Savvy: Stephen Udoff, Pritchett-Rapf Realtors; Outstanding Rookie: Bonneau Ansley, Harry Norman, Realtors; Significant Sales Award: Brian Hazen, Andrew Arreola, Ann Chiasson and Rob Kildow.

About LuxuryRealEstate.com

LuxuryRealEstate.com, a Webby Award Honoree, has been voted ‘Best of the Web’ by Forbes magazine multiple times, praised by the International Herald Tribune, Town & Country, the Wall Street Journal and has been ranked ‘Best Website’ by consumer surveys. Since its debut in1995, LuxuryRealEstate.com has remained the #1 portal for luxury properties on the internet and has several times more $1,000,000+ content of any near-peer.

Known in the industry since 1986 as the Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate network, a global collection of the finest luxury real estate brokers in the world, this group of more than 70,000 professionals in more than 85 countries collectively sells in excess of $190 billion of real estate annually. Members are selected by Chairman/Publisher John Brian Losh, one of REALTOR Magazine’s 25 Most Influential People in Real Estate and broker of fine properties and estates through his Seattle-based brokerage firm, Ewing & Clark, Inc. Luxury Real Estate has been recognized by the Webby Awards, has received “Best of the Web” by Forbes Magazine, honored with an ADDY Award for Excellence in Web Design, deemed “Best Website” by consumer surveys, ranked in the Inc. 5000 List, noted as one of the 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies by Puget Sound Business Journal, and recognized by the Maggie Awards.

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Rodeo Realty Expanding in the Los Angeles Area

(Bel Air, Calif.) Over the past few months, Rodeo Realty has expanded the size of its Woodland Hills, Calif. office by 3,000 square feet, secured space for a new office in prime Beverly Hills, and began searching for new branch locations in Brentwood, Calif. and the famed Sunset Strip in Los Angeles. The residential real estate firm has hired more than 100 agents in 2010 alone.
“My company gives agents an edge, by providing them with the technology and marketing tools they need to succeed in this market,” said company founder and president, Syd Leibovitch.
Rodeo’s 3,000 square foot Woodland Hills expansion accommodates 12 new private offices, six cubicles, and space for Rodeo’s affiliate company Encore Escrow. The company plans to increase the branch’s number of producing agents by 25 or more.
Leibovitch secured more than 12,000 square feet of prime Beverly Hills real estate on Cañon Drive to build-out a new office for its existing Beverly Hills operations. Once complete, the branch will house more than 100 agents.
Rodeo is searching for 10,000 square feet of office space in Brentwood, Calif. to service communities such as Santa Monica, Malibu, and West L.A. The company is also actively looking for space on the Sunset Strip. In the past few months, Leibovitch has doubled the size of his Information Technology department, and hired a new regional manager and publicist.
“Becoming a real estate agent means owning your own business, and you have to invest in your business to make it grow,” said Leibovitch. “I try to lead by example and always show that Rodeo Realty is a leader in agent support.”
Syd Leibovitch founded Rodeo Realty in 1986. It’s one of the largest independently owned residential real estate firms in California, with more than 700 agents and 10 offices in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Affiliate companies include: L.A. Mortgage, Encore Escrow and Progressive Title.

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Rodeo Realty Expanding in Southern California

(Bel Air, Calif.) Over the past few months, Rodeo Realty has expanded the size of its Woodland Hills, Calif. office by 3,000 square feet, secured space for a new office in prime Beverly Hills, and began searching for new branch locations in Brentwood, Calif. and the famed Sunset Strip. The residential real estate firm has hired more than 100 agents in 2010 alone.

“My company gives agents an edge, by providing them with the technology and marketing tools they need to succeed in this market,” said company founder and president, Syd Leibovitch.
Rodeo’s 3,000 square foot Woodland Hills expansion accommodates 12 new private offices, six cubicles, and space for Rodeo’s affiliate company Encore Escrow. The company plans to increase the branch’s number of producing agents by 25 or more.
Leibovitch secured more than 12,000 square feet of prime Beverly Hills real estate on Cañon Drive to build-out a new office for its existing Beverly Hills operations. Once complete, the branch will house more than 100 agents.
Rodeo is searching for 10,000 square feet of office space in Brentwood, Calif. to service communities such as Santa Monica, Malibu, and West L.A. The company is also actively looking for space on the Sunset Strip. In the past few months, Leibovitch has doubled the size of his Information Technology department, and hired a new regional manager and publicist.
“Becoming a real estate agent means owning your own business, and you have to invest in your business to make it grow,” said Leibovitch. “I try to lead by example and always show that Rodeo Realty is a leader in agent support.”
Syd Leibovitch founded Rodeo Realty in 1986. It’s one of the largest independently owned residential real estate firms in California, with more than 700 agents and 10 offices in Los Angeles and Ventura counties. Affiliate companies include: L.A. Mortgage, Encore Escrow and Progressive Title.

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Greg Germann Leases Home in Santa Monica

Lauren Beale of the L.A. Times included one of Ian L. Brooks’ listings in Hot Properties last week. Here’s what she had to say:

Actor Greg Germann, who starred on “Ally McBeal,” has leased a home in Santa Monica that had been listed for sale at $1.7 million. The lease price was not available.
The Cape Cod-inspired house includes high ceilings, skylights, balconies, terraces and a master bedroom with coved ceilings, a fireplace and dual closets. There are four bedrooms and four bathrooms.
Germann, 52, played Richard Fish in “Ally McBeal” from 1997 to 2002 and starred on “In Case of Emergency” (2007). Since then he has appeared on “Medium” (2010), “Ghost Whisperer” (2009), “CSI: NY” (2009) and other shows, as well as in the Broadway play ” Boeing-Boeing.”
Ian L. Brooks of Rodeo Realty was the listing agent and handled the lease transaction.

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Home Once Owned by Elton John, Joan Collins and Christine McVie

This gated and private East Coast traditional view estate is located in the star-studded Crest Streets of Beverly Hills. Not surprisingly, the home has a long list of former celebrity owners including: Christine McVie of the rock band Fleetwood Mac, Joan Collins, and Elton John.

The estate is on more than ¾ acres of lush, park-like grounds. A large motor court entry leads to a majestic home that features flagstone exterior and slate roof.

Interiors are elegant and comfortable, with wood floors and wonderful spaces for entertaining. The living room features a marble fireplace and French doors that lead to a covered patio overlooking the landscaped grounds and breathtaking city, mountain and ocean views.
The formal dining room also features French doors that open to a fragrant rose garden. The centerpiece of the home is a gourmet kitchen with center island, breakfast area, pine cabinets, exposed beam ceiling and top of the line commercial stainless steel appliances. An adjacent family/media room with oversized fireplace and built-in bookcase plus separate den/office with fireplace are also featured.
The master suite offers tranquil city and ocean views, an oversized fireplace and a gorgeous master bath with dual sinks, spa tub and steam shower with ocean view. Three additional bedroom suites complete the interiors. The lush and verdant grounds include several flat grassy areas, a swimmers pool, sun deck and pond with shady gazebo.
Joe Babajian of Rodeo Realty and Judy Cycon of Prudential California Realty are co-listing the property. The price is $7.45 million. For more information visit: http://www.lloydcrestestate.com/.
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Marketing Celebrity Homes

Talk to Todd Jones of Rodeo Realty’s Studio City office if you’ve ever questioned whether or not to promote the fact that one of your real estate listings, or purchases, involves celebrities.
Jones is currently representing soap opera star Katherine Kelly Lang, and husband Alex D’Andrea, in the sale of their home in Sherman Oaks. The 5 bedroom, 3 bath, 3,410 square foot abode is listed at $1.449 million.
The house was featured last week in the Los Angeles Times, and Curbed LA blogged about the listing and posted a direct link to Jones’ web site. The property was also featured on news sites throughout the United States.
Note: All of this press was garnered without revealing the property address. The celebrity couple still lives in the home and requested the address remain confidential. News outlets are generally cooperative with privacy matters like this.
Jones used Google Analytics to track the amount of visitors to his web site. All of the press led to 550 more hits than usual. He said the Curbed LA mention probably contributed the most since it provided a direct link to his site. Jones’ name also appeared on the Web and in the Saturday print edition of the L.A. Times.
He said the publicity keeps the seller happy, because he’s able to show another one of Rodeo Realty’s strengths and capabilities. Follow-up from the exposure –meaning whether or not it leads to showings and an eventual sale- will also be a good indicator of whether the home is priced right.
Public relations is just one element of Jones’ overall marketing strategy for this home. The fact that he had a web site for the property gave readers a place to “land” and a way for him to track the numbers. Jones’ name appearing in the news is also a plus for landing clients in the future.
Of course, as real estate agents you need to respect the privacy and wishes of celebrity clients. And if confidentiality agreements are in place, you cannot break those agreements. But if celebrity clients are open to using their names to help sell the home, it can give your marketing efforts a significant boost.

Eric Billingsley, Publicist, Rodeo Realty

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Katherine Kelly Lang Selling Home in Sherman Oaks

Soap star Katherine Kelly Lang, who has played Brooke Logan Forrester on CBS’s the “Bold and the Beautiful” since 1987, and husband, entertainment industry executive Alex D’Andrea, have listed their Sherman Oaks home.

The South of the Blvd. abode blends warmth, charm and impeccable designer interiors. It has 3,410 square feet of living space, 5 bedrooms and 3 baths. Soaring ceilings, wood floors, fireplace, and a 7’ built-in wine rack are just a few of the home’s perks.

The generous master suite includes a spa tub, separate shower and walk-in closet. The backyard boasts a basketball goal, lush landscaping, viewing area, and even a putting green.

Lang and D’Andrea’s home is situated in the Dixie Canyon Elementary boundaries and close to many prestigious private schools. The house is priced at $1.449 million and Todd Jones of Rodeo Realty is the listing agent.

For more information visit: www.toddjoneshomes.com/dixiecanyon.aspx

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Pricing a Home Competitively: Rodeo Realty Agents Share Thoughts

In the current housing market, sellers are trying to make up for lost ground from the housing bubble burst, and buyers are trying to snatch up properties for rock-bottom prices. Both are understandable positions to take.
But how do you get the former to list their homes at competitive prices and the latter to make realistic offers? Here are a few thoughts from Rodeo Realty agents.
Ron Tanzman of Rodeo Realty’s Calabasas office said it’s important to suss out the educated versus unrealistic buyers and sellers.
For the “unrealistic” ones, find out how they came up with their numbers. Are they basing those numbers on pure emotion, desire to make up for lost ground in the economy or what?
Tanzman said in most cases he can get buyers to list at a competitive price by simply showing them comparables in the area. If not, he pulls the “Sale or sit close” – e.g. If it’s priced at X amount you can plan on selling. If it’s priced at Y you can plan on sitting on the home.
Homes in the under $500,000 segment are netting multiple offers when priced right, he said. Those in the $700,000+ are moving when priced competitively. Otherwise, they may sit for five or six months and go through multiple price reductions.
For buyers, “winning” is often more of the objective than price alone. So Tanzman points out multiple ways they can win right now. Historically low mortgage rates and the benefits of home ownership are a couple examples. If they’re still not willing to budge from an unreasonable offer, and that offer isn’t gaining traction with the seller, it might be time to show them another property.
Denise Nelan of Rodeo’s Studio City office said one of the hardest factors to contend with is buyers and sellers thinking they know about real estate. Unfortunately, many get their information from friends or web sites that are out of touch with specific market realities.
She stresses comparable sales in the area. When dealing with a buyer who’s asking for everything under the sun during the negotiation, she also may ask them to put themselves in the shoes of the seller.
Nelan recalls one multiple offer scenario where a buyer asked the seller to “pay for any and all repairs.” Needless to say, the vagueness and potentially expensive nature of that statement didn’t go over so well.
Agents have to learn to count to 10, take a breath, and write or lose offers until they get the one that sticks, said Nelan. Sometimes you also have to know when to pull back. Agent’s communication skills are certainly being put to the test right now, she added.
Scott Cort of Rodeo’s Beverly Hills office lists properties ranging from $600,000 to $13 million. Despite money being dirt cheap right now, there has been very little activity on some of his listings – a fact he chalks up to some sellers not being willing to drop their prices.
In contrast, he recently listed a short sale property for $699,000 (Mind you, all of his properties are A-A+) That listing netted more activity than some of his others combined
Cort said you have to be realistic with sellers up-front and have a lot of patience.
He draws up Excel spreadsheets for sellers and lets the comparables speak for themselves. In one case where a seller was asking too much for a property, it took a month of e-mailing back and forth for the seller to digest the realistic asking price. He finally came to terms with reality and dropped the price.

By Eric Billingsley, publicist, Rodeo Realty

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