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Director, producer and screenwriter Rob Cohen of “The Fast and the Furious” fame has bought a house in Hidden Hills for $3.26 million.

The Cape Cod-inspired two-story, built in 1996, sits on more than an acre in the gated equestrian community. A circular driveway, a wide front porch with a swing and dormer windows add to the quaint ambiance.

The 5,483 square feet of living space include a family room with a bar, a gym, five bedrooms and six bathrooms. The first-floor master suite features vaulted ceilings, a fireplace and dual closets.

A great room looks out onto the backyard, which contains a resort-like pool with a spa and waterfall. There’s also a fire pit, a barbecue center and an outdoor dining area.

Cohen, 66, was creator and executive producer of last year’s TV series “Topless Prophet.” He also wrote three of the episodes. Among his film credits are “The Fast and the Furious” (2001), “xXx” (2002) and “Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story” (1993).

The property previously sold a decade ago for $2.4 million.

Jennifer Winchell of Rodeo Realty was the listing agent. Dana Olmes and Jeff Biebuyck of Ewing & Associates Sotheby’s International Realty represented Cohen.

 

Article Courtesy of LA Times

Wow!!!  I want to share a truly amazing buyer review I just received from my client on Zillow – “We had been researching the real estate market in the West Valley for a number of years before we were ready to purchase, so I had met and talked with Lonnie at a number of open houses throughout that period.  I knew that Lonnie was a prominent figure in the San Fernando Valley real estate market, but when I worked with him on a personal level, I realized why his reputation precedes him – he’s the best.  That’s not hyperbole, that’s my honest assessment after having purchased multiple properties in Southern California and working with a number of different brokers.  Lonnie is a cut above the rest – he’s attentive, he’s caring, and most of all, he’s accessible.  No question was too small for him – he would always answer any inquiry I had, and would do so in a manner that was both prompt and perceptive.

We are planning on purchasing another property in the coming years, and when we’re ready to buy, Lonnie will be the first person that I call.  If you are in a similar situation, I would urge you to do the same.  With Lonnie, you receive the finest care and attention one could hope for in a real estate transaction.  As I mentioned before, he is as good as they come, and unlike other brokers on the market who might claim the same level of service – Lonnie actually backs it up.” – tmiller247

Below is the Westside Market Report for June 2015 detailing local real estate market statistics and including year-over-year data:

Below is the SF Valley Market Report for June 2015 detailing local real estate market statistics and including year-over-year data:

Below is the Conejo Valley Market Report for June 2015 detailing local real estate market statistics and including year-over-year data:

Midcentury Modern home in Palm Springs that was once leased to Elvis Presley is for sale at $6.93 million – a 27% price drop from a year ago when it was listed at $9.5 million.

Known as the honeymoon hideaway of the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll, the early ’60s house was leased by Presley starting in 1966 for $21,000.
Open for tours and events in recent months, the glass-and-stone home was constructed by custom builder Robert Alexander and consists of four circle-shaped living spaces set on three levels. Modernist architect William Krisel used curved walls of stone, a round kitchen island and a circular fireplace in the center of the living room to further emphasize the distinctive shape.

The 4,695-square-foot house retains its period vibe. Dining and living rooms, a bar, a breakfast bar, four bedrooms and five bathrooms are among the living spaces. Views take in the Santa Rosa Mountains and Coachella Valley.

A swimming pool, a tennis court and a fruit orchard complete the 1.25 acres of grounds.

Two TV movies, “Elvis & Me” (1988) and “Elvis by the Presleys” (2005), were filmed at the house.

Presley, who died in 1977 at 42, transfixed generations with his Grammy-winning songs, TV and live performances and movie roles. Among his enduring hits are “Jailhouse Rock,” “Love Me Tender” and “Hound Dog.”

Gregory Bega of Sotheby’s International Realty, Eric Meeks of HomeSmart Professionals and Mary Kay Nibley of Rodeo Realty are the listing agents.

 

Article courtesy of LA Times

Living well is the best revenge, and actress Ashley Madekwe, best known for her social-climbing role in the series “Revenge,” has found a place to live well in the Hollywood Hills.

Madekwe and husband Iddo Goldberg, who both star in the series “Salem,” recently paid $1.745 million for a mid-century home with updated appliances and finishes.

The 3-bedroom, 2.5-bath home features picture windows, skylights and hardwood floors throughout its nearly 2,000 square feet.

French doors in the master suite open onto an outdoor entertainment area with a pool and pingpong table.

Article Courtesy of Zillow

 

The estate houses 5 bedrooms and 5 baths with 5,000 square feet of living space, the property exhibits a unique design that is popular to the Palm Springs area. The estate was designed by architect William Kriesel, and built by Robert and Helene Alexander. Robert was famous in the architecture world for constructing more than 1,200 modern homes in the Desert, which earned him his fame. The home is also notoriously known for being the honeymoon spot of The King himself, Elvis Presley, amongst other celebrities who visited it.   Other notable facts, the estate was dubbed by LOOK magazine as the Home of Tomorrow in 1962 for its unique design. Congratulations on the listing Mary Kay!

 

 

This property is an architectural, eco-friendly feat, largely in part to being built by James Chuda as his own private home; this was well before sustainability was prevalent in our culture. The property was built with non-toxic building materials, and as a result was chosen as a finalist for the ‘Los Angeles Beautification Award.’ In fact the estates design was so admired that Olivia Newton-John used the property as a prototype for a much larger scale version, which James Chuda also built. Other notable facts for the property are that it was featured on 20/20 With Barbara Walters, as well as being published by Rizzoli International Press.  Congrats you two! Keep up the great work.

 

 

 

In the age of technology it is important for agents to look at ways to diversify themselves from the competition. With more people turning to the Internet to find what they are looking for, it becomes important to cater to these tech savvy clients. Ben Bacal has utilized this tool to the fullest, and often uses videos he produces himself to sell his properties. These videos are tastefully thought out from beginning to end, and can easily rival any popular music video, as a result Ben creates a scenario that a buyer could easily find themselves in. It is this carefully thought out marketing that has helped Ben set himself apart from the competition. We couldn’t be prouder of you Ben, keep up the good work.

 

9133 Oriole Way, Bird Streets, Los Angeles, CA 90069 from Tri-Blend Media on Vimeo.