Rodeo Realty

May 6, 2016

Rodeo Realty's Calabasas agent Lisa Moriarity closes deal on home once owned by Caitlyn and Kris Jenner

Rodeo Realty’s Calabasas agent Lisa Moriarity has closed the deal on a $2.351 million home.

According to the Los Angeles Times, the Mediterranean was once owned by television personalities Caitlyn Jenner and Kris Jenner. The newspaper reports that the home was put on the market the same day Caitlyn Jenner, formerly known as Bruce, revealed her new name on the cover of Vanity Fair.

The two-story home has hardwood floors, detailed molding and wainscoting throughout. The five bedrooms, five-bathroom property contains covered patios, a swimming pool with a spa and horseshoe pit. The approximately 4,600-square-foot house also comes with a three-car garage.

Moriarity represented the buyer in the purchase of the Calabasas home.

To read the LA Times article, click HERE

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May 3, 2016

Rodeo Realty's Sunset agent John Galich lists home of Director Jason Moore; former home of prominent actor Rock Hudson

American director Jason Moore, known for films such as Pitch Perfect (2012), Sisters (2015) and Broadway’s Avenue Q, is selling his Studio City home for $1,095,000. John Galich of Rodeo Realty has the listing, which has been featured in several sites such as The Hollywood Reporter, Realtor.com, Los Angeles Times, Variety, Curbed LA, and LAist.

The Mid-Century estate once belonged to the legendary Hollywood ‘heartthrob’ Rock Hudson. The prominent actor lived in the serene retreat from 1951 – 1955. He was photographed throughout the home and featured in Architectural Digest’s Hollywood at Home.

The 1,008 sq.ft. home was designed by Architect Ralph Bowerman in 1950. The stunning architecture is perched in the hills above Coldwater Canyon. Its private driveway leads up to a secluded 14,000 sq.ft. wooded lot that separates the house from the street and neighbors. The one bedroom, one bathroom property opens out to breathtaking gardens by a noted L.A. landscape designer and features multiple outdoor “living rooms” that make the grounds with canyon, treetop and city lights views truly magical. Additional features include wrap-around walls of glass, beautiful post and beam style, spectacular views and a skinny dip plunge pool.

Aside from films, Moore has also directed television episodes of Dawson’s Creek, One Tree Hill, Everwood and Brothers & Sisters. In 2004 he was nominated for Broadway’s Tony Award for Best Director.

To read The Hollywood Reporter’s story, click HERE
Realtor.com article, click HERE
Los Angeles Times feature, click HERE
For Variety’s story, click HERE
Curbed LA’s feature, click HERE
LAist, click HERE
Luxury Real Estate’s website, HERE
DIGS magazine, click HERE

View photo gallery below:

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April 30, 2016

Economic update for the week ending April 30, 2016

Stocks down after two weeks of solid gains – A disappointing U.S. first quarter GDP report, and a weaker than expected consumer sentiment reading from The University of Michigan were some of the factors which drove stocks down this week. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 17,763.64, down from 18,003.75 last week. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,065.30, down from 2,091.58 last week. The NASDAQ closed Friday at 4,775.36, down from 4,906.23 last week.

Bond yields slightly lower – The 10 year U.S. Treasury bond closed Friday yielding 1.83%, slightly down from 1.89% last week. The 30 year U.S. Treasury bond closed Friday yielding 2.66%, also slightly lower than 2.70% last week. Mortgage rates follow bond yields so we watch bonds carefully.

Federal Reserve officials left interest rates unchanged – In a statement Wednesday after a two-day meeting, the Fed stuck to its longstanding plan to move carefully on raising the benchmark federal-funds rate. The Fed has held the federal-funds rate between 0.25% and 0.50% since December, it’s first interest rate hike since 2006. The Fed dropped the rate and held it to near zero since 2008. Policy makers want to give themselves room to act at their June 14-15 gathering should they see enough encouraging developments, without signaling to investors that action is likely. Among the concerns: lingering worry over low inflation at home, slow-growing overseas economies and the potential British exit from the European Union. The Fed’s caution underscores how policy makers still lack confidence they can move away from extraordinary easy-money policies without undermining the fragile U.S. expansion and knocking the global economy off balance. Officials have already backed off the expected pace of four rate increases this year amid economic sluggishness. Policy makers on Wednesday pointed to a U.S. economy that is performing well in some respects but continuing to struggle in others. “Labor market conditions have improved further even as growth in economic activity appears to have slowed,” the statement said. It noted household spending has diminished even though real income has risen and consumer sentiment remains high.

First quarter gross domestic product disappointing – U.S. GDP posted its weakest showing since the first quarter of 2014, with an annualized growth rate of 0.5% for the first quarter of 2016. A slow first quarter has been something of a pattern in recent years, followed by a pickup in later quarters. Economists were divided over whether the details of today’s report imply a second-quarter bounce back. While the overall report was weak, housing was one sector that posted very good results. The housing sector was up 14.8%.

U.S. Pending Home Sales at one year high – The National Association of Realtors reported that the number of homes that went under contract in March reached the highest level in nearly a year. They felt this was a sign the housing market is gaining steam as Americans benefit from historically low interest rates and steady job growth. Pending sales of previously owned homes, reflecting contract signings, rose 1.4% in March from February. The pickup in pending sales is the latest sign the housing market continues to advance after posting solid growth in 2015. Pending sales in March climbed 1.4% compared with a year earlier. A more closely watched measure of the housing market is the NAR’s report on existing-home sales, which measure closed transactions. Existing-home sales—or all purchases of previously owned single-family homes, town homes, and condominiums—rose 5.1% in March from February to an annual rate of 5.33 million, the NAR reported earlier this month. Sales were up 1.5% from the prior year. Existing homes represent roughly 90% of the market.

Consumer confidence lower in April – The University of Michigan released its April consumer sentiment index. It fell to 89.0 from 91. The index is now 7.2% lower than its level one year ago. In a release the survey director, Richard Curtin stated that “the negative views of the future may be in part due to the presidential campaign.” He also wrote that, “the size of the decline, while troublesome, is still far short of indicating an impending recession.”

Mortgage rates slightly higher this week – The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey released on April 28, 2016 showed that average mortgage rates from lenders surveyed for the most popular mortgage products were as follows: The 30-year fixed rate average was 3.66%. The 15-year fixed average rate was 2.89%. The 5/1 ARM average rate was 2.86%.

Have a great weekend,
Syd

April 29, 2016

Rodeo Realty's Allyson Carter lists Tommy Lee's Calabasas estate

Rocker Tommy Lee is selling his Calabasas home for $5,995,000. Allyson Carter of Rodeo Realty is the listing agent.

Carter’s listing has attracted media attention once again. Her listing has been featured on several sites including Forbes, The Hollywood Reporter, Architectural Digest, Yahoo News, The Real Deal Magazine and Los Angeles Times.

The 9,991 square foot property sits on its own hilltop in a secluded cul-de-sac. The home, located within the guard-gated area of the Vista Pointe community, has five bedrooms and six bathrooms.

The unique custom estate is three stories and features an open atrium with retractable roof in the center of the home. Additional features include an indoor koi pond and spa, a theater room, and a wine room with 2nd kitchen. The floor plan with sprawling bamboo sets the tone for a very serene “Zen like” feel. Underground, there’s a 3,000 square foot garage of which two-thirds of that now house a state-of-the-art recording studio—theatriumstudio.com. Outside on the hilltop there’s a piano shaped pool with panoramic jetliner views of the valley.

Take a look inside his rockin’ house:

To read The Hollywood Reporter’s story, click HERE
Forbes: HERE
Los Angeles Times article, click HERE
The Real Deal Magazine story, click HERE
Yahoo News report, click HERE
Story on Luxury Real Estate’s website, click HERE
Architectural Digest: HERE
Zillow’s blog, click HERE
Yahoo Celebrity’s story, click HERE
Realtor.com article, click HERE
New York Post: HERE
AOL, click HERE

Photo gallery:

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April 28, 2016

Rodeo Realty's Sunset agent Rhonda Payne lists Venice home designed by Bridgid Coulter

A refined rustic beach house designed by actress-turned designer Bridgid Coulter has just went on the market and it’s already making headlines. The modern beach bungalow is listed by Rhonda Payne of Rodeo Realty. The property is listed at $2,450,000 and is located on a 3,000 sq. ft. lot in Venice’s Oxford Triangle.

The property has been featured on LA Times, Daily Mail UK, Curbed, The Real Deal LA and TMZ.

Coulter explored the potential of the home by raising the ceiling of the main level to 10 feet and adding a second level. Coulter says she wanted the home to feel serene, airy and lofty. The extraordinary 3 bed, 3 bath masterpiece includes a “doghouse” pop up that leads to a 360 degree panoramic view from the roof deck.

The environmentally conscious home has hydronic radiant heating under all floors and remote venting clearstory windows that utilize centuries old climate control methods to maintain comfortable interiors all year. Coulter used Zero VOC paints, FSC certified woods, green glues, natural marble and stone all throughout the design of the home to reduce the potential for pollutants.

Outside, the small yards are filled with local and drought tolerant plants to minimize impact on resources. The property is completely surrounded by all new perimeter fencing.

Coulter (Bridgid Coulter Design, LLC) is a dreamer with myriad professional endeavors: trained in acting, improv, and interior design. While most proud of her role as a mother and mate, she juggles the occasional acting gig with running a boutique interior design firm based in Santa Monica. Bridgid has spent the last two decades in some part of the interior and architectural design process. She started the development arm simply to understand how to design and build a home. Her approach is a methodical, artistic process during which she contemplates every step of the journey as it develops both internally and externally.

Los Angeles Times article, click HERE

TMZ story, click HERE

Daily Mail UK, click HERE

Curbed report, click HERE

The Real Deal LA story, click HERE

Realtor.com, click HERE

Page Six magazine, click HERE

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April 28, 2016

Rodeo Realty’s President Syd Leibovitch featured on Luxury Real Estate website

Rodeo Realty’s President Syd Leibovitch is being featured on the premiere luxury homes search site, LuxuryRealEstate.com. The site is known for providing access to fine international estates and property listings.

Leibovitch is a featured professional on the main page of the site. The recognized website lists his certificates and also gives a description about him.

“He is a popular expert witness and reliable source consulted by the media for his expertise as a qualified leader in the real estate and mortgage industries,” said the Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate brand.

The site also featured four other professionals alongside Leibovitch.

To view Leibovitch’s profile, click HERE

To visit LuxuryRealEstate.com, click HERE

April 26, 2016

Rodeo Realty's Nanette Marchand lists Catherine Oxenberg and Casper Van Dien's Malibu home

Dynasty actress Catherine Oxenberg and Starship Troopers star Casper Van Dien have listed their Malibu home. The Mediterranean gated country villa is listed at $2,995,000. Nanette Marchand of Rodeo Realty Beverly Hills is one of the listing agents to the property. Her listing has been featured on The Real Deal LA, Los Angeles Times and Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate.

The 3,701 sq. ft. home is nestled in the hills of Malibu just past Trancas Canyon and directly across from Broad Beach. The home has 4 bedrooms on the main level and a luxurious master retreat upstairs. The main living room greets you to reclaimed douglas fir hardwood floors, flawless Venetian plaster and vaulted ceilings. Each room opens via French doors to its own garden. The villa comes with a salt-water pool, an ocean view and is situated on an acre of rolling green lawns, koi ponds, fountains and tranquil quiet places.

Catherine was born in NYC, raised in London, admitted to Harvard University, and transferred to Columbia.

It was fitting that the award-winning actress began her career in 1982, portraying Diana, Princess of Wales, in the biographical film The Royal Romance of Charles and Diana. Her mother is Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia and she is a direct descendant of Empress Catherine the Great of Russia. Her regal bearing made her the perfect choice to play Amanda Carrington on the hit TV series Dynasty.

Oxenberg, venturing into the unscripted world, satirized her princess image by showing a humorous, behind-the-scenes portrait of her life as a wife and mother of 5, on Lifetime’s I Married a Princess reality series.

Her most recent endeavors are inspired by her research in the realm of conscious sexuality and her passion to combat sexual illiteracy – http://catherineoxenberg.me http://thebodyofbliss.com http://sexology.com

Van Dien’s breakthrough role was as the lead in Paul Verhoeven’s 1997 sci-fi film Starship Troopers. He was also in Tim Burton’s critically acclaimed film Sleepy Hollow as Brom Bones. He was the 20th Tarzan and the only one to ever film in Africa and ride an African elephant in the Warner Bros. 1998 film Tarzan and the Lost City.

His most recent victory has been behind the camera as a Director. He has directed three films in which he also starred. His second film Patient Killer won best film and best director awards and was bought and aired on Lifetime.

For the Los Angeles Times article, click HERE

For The Real Deal LA story, click HERE

For the Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate press, click HERE

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April 25, 2016

Rodeo Realty's Beverly Hills agent Ben Bacal spotlighted by Inman for his "cinema immobilier"

Inman News kicked-off its Monday by featuring Rodeo Realty’s Ben Bacal. The Beverly Hills agent is being highlighted for his narrative-style listing videos.

“…Bacal is not so much setting a standard as much as he’s creating a new genre,” said Inman.

Writer Britt Chester is calling the new genre “cinéma immobilier.”

Screen Shot 2016-04-25 at 10.00.49 AM — Inman

“He’s trying to get the right eyes on his properties and it’s working,” said Chester. “His stunning footage from a Hillcrest Road property captured the interest of a foreign buyer who ended up purchasing the property.”

Inman recognizes Bacal for his success in using social media to spread the word for his properties, but it’s his next idea that is drawing even more attention—an app called RoofShoot.

[su_vimeo url=”https://vimeo.com/153952854″]

According to the article, the app allows agents to quickly upload personal videos for homebuyers. Through Roofshoot, agents can streamline the editing of listing videos with narrations, voice-overs and video tours of a home.

“It’s somewhat challenging the credentials of agents who might say they are familiar with a particular neighborhood by creating a platform for agents to prove it,” said Inman.

“I always tell agents if you’re not out there door-knocking and cold-calling or in social clubs or meeting people everyday, you need to be out there shooting evergreen content that lasts forever,” Bacal tells Inman.

Roofshoot is said to currently be in the beta testing phase and it’s expected to be released sometime in June.

To read the Inman news article, click HERE

April 23, 2016

Economic update for the week ending April 23, 2016

Stocks at yearly high – DOW tops 18,000 – Stocks were up again this week. Solid corporate first quarter earnings and firming oil prices helped the markets this week. So far the first quarter earnings season is off to a solid start. 59% of firms beat revenue expectations and 82% of firms beat earns expectations. Energy stocks rebounded as well. U.S. crude oil rose from $39 a barrel last week to $43 this week. U.S. crude oil hit $27 a barrel in February, so it’s made a nice rebound which has energy companies, and people in areas with oil production feeling better about the economy. The Dow Jones industrial average has now gained 2,500 points since hitting its lows just two months ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed the week at 18,003.75 up from 17,897.46 last week. The S&P 500 closed the week at 2,091.58, up from 2,080.73 last week. The NASDAQ closed Friday at 4,906.23, down from 4,938.72 last week.

Bond yields up this week – The 10 year U.S. Treasury bond closed Friday yielding 1.89%, up from 1.76% last week. The 30 year U.S. Treasury bond closed Friday yielding 2.70%, up from 2.56% last week. Mortgage rates follow bond yields so we watch bonds carefully. Mortgage rates will be higher next week.

Mortgage rates remain near three year low -The Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Survey released on April 21, 2016 showed that average mortgage rates from lenders surveyed for the most popular products were as follows: The 30 year fixed average rate was 3.59%. The 15 year fixed average rate was 2.85%. The 5/1 ARM average rate was 2.81%. Rates rose at the end of the week. They will be a little higher on next week’s survey.

California existing home sales and prices post best pace in six months – The California Association of Realtors reported that existing home sales totaled 415,220 in March on a seasonally adjusted annualized rate, up 5.5% from February, and 5.7% higher than last March. The statewide median price was $483,280, up 8.9% from February and up 4% from March 2015.

U.S home existing home sales show strong spring buying season has begun – The National Association of Realtors announced that existing home sales reported from member associations around the nation revealed that home sales in March were up 5.1% from February.

California unemployment rate drops in March – The state’s unemployment rate dropped from 5.5% in February to 5.4% in March. It has dropped 6.8% since its peak of 12.2% in February 2010.

Have a great weekend!

Syd