Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Hollywood Hills Modern Home For Sale a Minute Away From Famed Sunset Strip : 8121 Gould Avenue
Hollywood Hills Modern Home For Sale a Minute Away From Famed Sunset Strip : 8121 Gould Avenue. Coming on the MLS tomorrow.
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Homes of Grammy Nominees.
The hottest acts in the music business earn their appeal by hitting the recording studio and their road warrior tour bus to promote their latest pop, rap, rock, blues or jazzy creations. On Sunday, Feb. 12, the music makers get their chance to shine on the red carpet when the awards season spotlights the 54th Grammy Awards at the Los Angeles Staples Center (8 p.m. ET, CBS). But even pop stars need a place to call home every once and awhile, so here is a tour of these musical cribs.
Kanye West
Song of the Year, Best Rap Album, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, Best Rap Performance
Kanye West upped his arrogantly bad boy status for his scene-stealing antics at awards shows. And with a critically acclaimed new recording and tour with fellow rapper Jay-Z, Kanye might be amped to pull off another unscripted surprise. The talented rap artist is nominated this year for seven awards, including the coveted “Song of the Year” for his collaborative piece “All of the Lights” with Rihanna, Fergie and Kid Cudi.
West picked up his LA digs in 2003 for $1,750,000. The 2002-built home was described as a “modern masterpiece” designed by a “world-renowned Italian architect” most likely appealed to West’s love of style. The 3-bedroom, 3.5-bath piece of Hollywood Hills real estate sits on a winding drive with views of the city below. It was listed for sale for $3,995,000 in 2010.
Source: IMDb
Rihanna
Album of the Year, Best Rap/Sung Collaboration, Song of the Year
Another year, another Grammy nomination for Barbados-born singer Rihanna — or three. The ubiquitous crooner, who could sing the phone book and make it sound hot, is up for a trio of awards, including Song of the Year for her collaboration with Kanye West.
While Rihanna’s luck in her musical career has been stellar, her luck in real estate has been the exact opposite. RiRi bought her Beverly Hills modern mansion, above, for $6.9 million, but later filed several lawsuits against the builder, previous owner, home inspector and real estate agents. She charged that her home was poorly constructed, with numerous water leaks causing extensive damage. She then listed the home as a $4 million short sale. There’s no word where the star is staying now, but her real estate drama may leave her a little gun-shy when it comes to purchasing a new home.
Katy Perry
Best Pop Solo Performance
Pop-star Katy Perry ended her year on a sour note with an impending divorce with her husband Russell Brand, but the pop diva could ring in the new year with another Grammy win.
Before Perry and Brand called it quits, the two shared a stately 3-acre Los Feliz home, pictured below, that Brand purchased as a Christmas gift for Katy in 2009. The pair listed the home on the Los Feliz real estate market in May 2011 for $3.395 million; it sold for $3.3 million.
Perry and Brand bought another, bigger, home in Hollywood Hills in June 2011, where movers were spotted hauling Brand’s stuff away. Whether Katy sticks with this property remains to be seen.
Homes of Grammy Nominees.
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Who stole our view today?
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Christophe ChooColdwell Banker
Previews International
1(310)777-6342
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I always remember to be thankful for the simple things in life.
Taken at Christophe Choo Real Estate Group - Coldwell Banker Previews Beverly Hills
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Selma Blair puts her stunning 1920s West Hollywood home on the market for a cool $1.78 million.
Selma Blair puts her stunning 1920s West Hollywood home on the market for a cool $1.78 million
Last updated at 8:57 AM on 31st January 2012
Having given birth to her first child, Arthur last July, actress Selma Blair clearly is feeling the need to upsize her living space.
The 39-year-old Hellboy star has put her West Hollywood bungalow on the market for a cool $1.78 million dollars.
The private abode boasts three bedrooms and three and a half bathrooms and is located near the trendy Sunset Strip.
Minimalist: The living room of Selma's West Hollywood home features a white colour theme and floor to ceiling windows
New abode: Selma may want to get a bigger place after giving birth to baby Arthur
Photographs from Realtor.com show the star of Cruel Intentions and The Sweetest Thing has a minimalist taste with many of the rooms featuring cream carpets and white walls.
The gated home, which is hidden from prying eyes by high hedges, was built back in 1922 but is reported by the website as having been 'extensively renovated in contemporary fashion.'
She bought the house back in 2004 for $1.315 million, public records show.
The interior is described as having a 'clean minimalist design', and the living room shows floor to ceiling widows with cream coloured curtains.
The home also features white wood floors and glass panels which let in the Los Angeles sunlight.
Measuring just over 2,900-square-feet, the property is one storey high and features a koi pond and a modern concrete courtyard.
There is a master suite, an office with built-in cabinets, an extensive kitchen, family room and a formal dining area.
The living room opens out onto a courtyard and features a black chaise lounge in front of a fireplace.
Selma and her partner, fashion designer Jason Bleick, will have enjoyed a spot of dining al fresco on the outdoor dining terrace.
The white stuff: The master bedroom sticks to the colour scheme featuring a fireplace and spotlights on a high ceiling
Black and white: The living room in in an open plan style with a fireplace and black chaise lounge
The pared-down colour scheme continues throughout the property, with the master bedroom, situated at the rear of the property is also decked out in white, albeit with a black fireplace.
The L-shaped living room also adds a black chaise lounge to the minimalist décor, with a fireplace in one portion of the room.
There is also a flat screen TV and a cream sofa in a homier section of the room, featuring built-in cabinets.
Open plan: two doors open out onto a courtyard where there is a small terrace for Selma to enjoy dining al fresco
Spic and span: The dining room features a wooden dining table and grey chairs with bookshelves and cream cupboards
Bright and white: The modern kitchen features a double cooker with an island in the middle complete with sink
Selma's taste clearly sways to the minimalist side, but the star's office features a little bit more clutter, with built-in floor-to-ceiling bookshelves filled with books and DVDs and an unusual antler style chandelier.
The kitchen boasts all-white cabinets with an island unit in the centre with a sink, under-counter wine fridge and skylight.
A crisp all-white bathroom is kitted out with high double sinks, separate make-up vanity, large white bath tub and separate stall shower.
The office: The actress's study has a little more clutter than the rest of the house with shelves of DVDs, folders and books
Bath time: The bathroom features all white appliances including a shower, bath and full length mirror
The back yard is equally minimalistic, featuring grey and white gravel, stone benches and a large tree.
Meanwhile, although she has had some time off to adjust to first-time motherhood, it looks like Selma could be returning to the acting fold soon.
Charlie Sheen has said he wants her to appear as his leading lady in his new TV comedy series Anger Management.
Relaxing outdoors: Two outdoor sun loungers provide the buyer of the plush property with ample space to relax
Green garden: The courtyard features grass and patio and outdoor table, as well as a koi pond
'She is a strong frontrunner,' he recently told Access Hollywood. 'She's a very special lady and is as pretty as the day is long and has never really had the opportunity to do something where she can shine, because off camera she's hilarious. I think she's one of the prettiest women in Hollywood.'
Selma has also recently starred opposite Christopher Walken and Mia Farrow in the comedy-drama, Dark Horse, and in the independent thriller, Columbus Circle
She has also signed up to play a World War I medic in drama Four Saints which is slated for release in 2013.
Modern courtyard: The outside space is equally minimalistic, with white and grey gravel, white stone benches and stepping stones
Busy mummy: The actress was seen arriving at her mother's home in Los Angeles on Monday
Heavy load: Selma was seen smiling as she carried her little bundle into the home
Selma Blair puts her stunning 1920s West Hollywood home on the market for a cool $1.78 million.
Los Angeles, Platinum Triangle, Beverly Hills, Real Estate, 90210, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Sunset Strip, Hollywood Hills, Luxury Estates, Mansions, Celebrity Homes, Homes For Sale, Listings, Realtor, Real Estate For sale, Luxury Homes, Los Angeles Realtor, Bel Air Real Estate, Christophe Choo, http://www.ChristopheChoo.com, beverly Hills real estate agent, Beverly Hills Realtor
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Ball Of Artists: Los Angeles Flocks To Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills For LAXART's Eye-Popping Gala
Ball Of Artists: Los Angeles Flocks To Greystone Mansion For LAXART's Eye-Popping Gala
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On Saturday night, something very special happened in Los Angeles... and it was called The Ball of Artists.
Over 20 performance art pieces took place at the majestically lit and slightly ominous Greystone Mansion -- both outside on the sprawling grounds and inside the glorious halls of the famed mansion. Music. Dance. Film. Flash mobs, tequila rooms, DJs. It was impossible to see it all but one tried - and more than anything, the splendor of walking inside Greystone's halls, down the grand staircase and fully existing inside one of Los Angeles' most historic estates gave everyone at the ball a sense of true giddiness.
The Ball of Artists was a celebration marking the end of Pacific Standard Time's 11-day performance art festival, put on by LAXART (an independent, nonprofit art space) and the Getty Research Institute. It was the first Ball of Artists in Los Angeles and it brought a comprehensive range of performance art pieces all into one grand space, for one evening. And grand it was.
Men donned tuxes; women went either chic-and-sophisticated black tie, or "artist" black tie, which left many eccentric outfits open to interpretation but stunning in a dozen different ways. Champagne was served. Bloody Mary's were handed out frozen in the form of push-pops. People danced in front of the famous bowling alley (anyone remember "There Will Be Blood?"), tasted dainty desserts in the mansion's original kitchen quarters and gazed out over the twinkling sparkling lights of our sprawling city. There were fog machines, twists and turns throughout the mansion, a jazz performance in one room, a freaky murder film in another. It was Halloween and New Year's Eve all in one.
LAXART's founding director and curator Lauri Firstenberg co-produced the ball with Richard Massey. The Huffington Post had the pleasure of speaking with Lauri the day before the event. Check out the Q&A below [SKIP FURTHER DOWN TO SEE OUR PHOTO GALLERY FROM THE BALL OF ARTISTS].
HuffPost: Saturday night's Ball of Artists is an event to conclude the PST Performance and Public Art Festival, which has been a huge initiative by the Getty and resulted in millions of dollars of grants to create exhibitions that celebrate southern California art. So it's been lots of artists recreating famous pieces, paying homage, and in some ways reinventing art. Do you believe in true reinvention? Either in art or in life?
Lauri Firstenberg: I think in the context of the festival, re-staging is the key term and concept and it is a debate curatorial and artistically regarding the re-contextualization of work in the present day - how to approach the reworking of performances and public artworks removed from their originally temporal, spatial, political, cultural conditions. Some responses to this platform have been more successful than others.HP: How would you describe the Ball of Artists to a child?
LF: I told my 3 year old that there is an 11-day festival and that artists are producing new projects in their studios responding to a magical site called Greystone as the concluding event and when it is over I will take her to Disneyland so she can see where the princesses live and she was thrilled.HP: What are some of the pieces you are most looking forward to seeing at the Ball of Artists?
LF: Eleanor Antin's "Before the Revolution" produced by LAXART at the Hammer Museum's Billy Wilder Theater and William Leavitt's "The Particles," which is an unrealized script the artist found in his studio that is being animated for the festival.HP: This is the first ever Ball of Artists in Los Angeles. It has been done before in Miami. What were some of the challenges bringing it here? Or some of the excitements in bringing something like this to the City of Angels?
LF: We were lucky to have Brooke Kanter on our board who worked with the city of Beverly Hills and Friends of Greystone to help secure a magical site. The challenge is to produce an event that we haven't done before and to see how artists respond and how it is received by audiences - in this case primarily artists. Artists guide the work that we do and will determine if we will do it again…HP: What to wear?
LF: My co-conspirator Richard put forward black tie, which creates anxiety for people in Los Angeles. The men are thrilled to bring out their tuxes and women are perplexed. I think it is up for translation.HP: Greystone Mansion is a very famous location in Los Angeles and used to be owned by the Doheny Family. What makes this venue a particularly fitting space for the Ball of Artists?
LF: Its history. Artists are responding to the narratives and uses of the site - its relationship to Hollywood cinema. Drew Heitzler and Kerry Tribe both have new works debuting at the Ball particularly invested in their research about the mansion and the family and the sites connection to local cinematic histories.
All photos courtesy of Wireimage
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Ball Of Artists: Los Angeles Flocks To Greystone Mansion in Beverly Hills For LAXART's Eye-Popping Gala
Los Angeles, Platinum Triangle, Beverly Hills, Real Estate, 90210, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Sunset Strip, Hollywood Hills, Luxury Estates, Mansions, Celebrity Homes, Homes For Sale, Listings, Realtor, Real Estate For sale, Luxury Homes, Los Angeles Realtor, Bel Air Real Estate, Christophe Choo, http://www.ChristopheChoo.com, beverly Hills real estate agent, Beverly Hills Realtor
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Monday, January 30, 2012
Five Questions to Ask Yourself Before Deciding to Buy a Home.
Perhaps you’ve found a house, or maybe you’ve just started the house hunt, but regardless of where you are in the home-buying process, you need to consider some key questions before you even think about making an offer. Buying a home is a big commitment — financial and otherwise — so take the time to weigh pros and cons.
Here are five questions every home buyer should ask themselves:
Will I own it for at least five years?
The first and most important item you should ask yourself before you consider buying any property is whether you will own it for a long time. People buy property in hopes of increasing wealth and five years is about the break-even point for earning appreciation in value above the buying and selling transaction costs. Therefore, if you don’t plan on holding the property for longer than five years, skip it! Renting a home is NOT necessarily throwing money away. Buying and selling quickly will usually leave you worse off financially than if you just held off on becoming a homeowner.
Do I love the home I want to buy?
One of the second most important items is do you love the property? Real estate should be held for the long term, and loving a property should perpetuate a happy enduring ownership. So don’t buy a property if you don’t love it or at least really like or want that particular property. And don’t buy just “to buy” or if someone tells you it is a good idea. Buy what you want, when you are ready, and buy a home that you will proudly boast about to your friends over the years and years.
Can I afford it?
It is more expensive to own a home than anyone anticipates. Even if the mortgage lender qualifies you for a certain loan amount and property price, you need to make sure YOU can afford it. Lenders don’t generally take into account child care expenses, health care expenses, expensive lifestyles and habits, etc. So make sure that you can comfortably afford your housing payment, still pay your other bills, and still save at least a little more for retirement. Also, if you are not sure of your continued employment situation for any reason, wait until your situation is stable so you can make those mortgage payments.
Is the home in good shape?
Here’s another warning: Fixer uppers rarely sell at a big enough discount to compensate for all the work that needs to be done. The cost of construction and property rehabilitation is outrageous, and unless you are a contractor, it almost undoubtedly will cost much more than you anticipate. So leave the “needs TLC” or “fixer-uppers” to the contractors. You want to buy something in decent shape and livable condition so you don’t get mired in rehab disaster. (Ever seen the movie “The Money Pit“?)
Do I know about the neighborhood?
Did you do adequate research, look at enough properties, learn the neighborhoods, and learn about property ownership before you made an offer? If you just moved into town or if you don’t know the area, rent for a while and search out the perfect community in which you would like to live within your financial means. As with any big investment, the better you educate yourself the lower your risk of something going wrong.
While there is no risk-free real estate, considering the questions above should increase your chances of having a great, long-term, property ownership experience.
Leonard Baron, MBA, CPA, is a San Diego State University Lecturer, a Zillow Blogger, the author of several books including “Real Estate Ownership, Investment and Due Diligence 101 – A Smarter Way to Buy Real Estate”, and loves kicking the tires of a good piece of dirt! See more at ProfessorBaron.com.
Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of Zillow.
Five Questions to Ask Yourself Before Deciding to Buy a Home.
Los Angeles, Platinum Triangle, Beverly Hills, Real Estate, 90210, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Sunset Strip, Hollywood Hills, Luxury Estates, Mansions, Celebrity Homes, Homes For Sale, Listings, Realtor, Real Estate For sale, Luxury Homes, Los Angeles Realtor, Bel Air Real Estate, Christophe Choo, http://www.ChristopheChoo.com, beverly Hills real estate agent, Beverly Hills Realtor
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If you are planning to finance a home purchase - 10 Surprising Reasons You Can’t Get a Home.
Getting a home signifies financial security and an investment for the future. Owning a home is part of the American Dream. There are some surprising reasons why you can’t get a home.
- Down Payment – You may have the required 10%-25% on the asking price of the home you are interested in but how you acquired it and how long you’ve had it could keep you from getting the home. Many times relatives offer young couples the down payment. Lending institutions take this into consideration when looking at the ability of a homeowner to keep up with mortgage payments. Saving the down payment over time lends to the credibility of money management.
- Credit – Credit history is an ongoing process. Student loans are one of the first obligations a person may have as an adult. Late payments may have a bearing on your ability to acquire a home later in life. Credit scores are also affected by utility payments. Any recurring bill that is paid late may come back to haunt you even though your financial situation is now more sound. Your debt to income ratio ideally needs to be under 45%. Less than a 3 month asset reserve in a bank account will generally keep you from getting a home. Check your credit score with all 3 agencies and make sure there is nothing being reported incorrectly. You need to aim for a score of 660 or better.
- Job Security – Your job history may be why you can’t get a home. Lenders look for stability. If you jump from job to job, regardless of monetary or career improvement, lenders see you as a financial risk. When the economy takes a downward turn, employers tend to retain employees with seniority. Also taken into consideration is the risk of the job.
- Parent History – If your parents have a questionable credit history, you may be dealing under their shadow. If parents foreclosed, you may be affected. If they were late with mortgage or credit card payments, you may be looked upon as having the same traits. If you are asked information on parent particulars, you may need to look elsewhere for home financing.
- Location – The location of a home may affect whether or not a lender is willing to risk mortgaging it. LNG routes, Super Site areas, fault lines, destructive weather patterns all have bearings on mortgage risks lenders are willing to take on.
- Inspection – More and more, home inspections are being required to seal the closing deal. Hopes have been dashed to learn major expenses must be incurred to pass inspection for the approval of the sale.
- Condition – Fixer-uppers may offer pricing that appears affordable. If you have no background of construction or home improvement projects completed, lenders are leery to finance such undertakings. They may require a lump sum amount be in an account to cover the improvements necessary to ensure the property does not result in a loss to the lender.
- Liens – If you owned property before and were subject to liens for unacceptable reasons such as credit card debt or unpaid taxes, you may not get the home you desire. A current homeowner may also have substantial liens that need to be satisfied at closing either from the sale itself or as additional costs to the buyer.
- History – The history of the home may be the deciding factor that keeps a lender from financing in your behalf. A murder, haunting, nearby sinkhole, or other less favorable activity, bear upon the lender’s willingness to finance such a home.
- The Bank – Economic conditions and bank lending history may be the reason you can’t get a home. Banks may be leaning toward only very secure clients to up their lending credibility. If a bank turns you down, look to other options before you decide to settle on thinking you can’t get a home. FHA, VHA, or a first time buyer program offer other alternatives for which you may qualify.
If you can’t get a home loan with one lender, chances are good that another institution will also turn you down. You should take some time and work at increasing the good points that will work in your favor. Try again when your situation has improved.
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If you are planning to finance a home purchase - 10 Surprising Reasons You Can’t Get a Home.
Los Angeles, Platinum Triangle, Beverly Hills, Real Estate, 90210, Bel Air, Holmby Hills, Sunset Strip, Hollywood Hills, Luxury Estates, Mansions, Celebrity Homes, Homes For Sale, Listings, Realtor, Real Estate For sale, Luxury Homes, Los Angeles Realtor, Bel Air Real Estate, Christophe Choo, http://www.ChristopheChoo.com, beverly Hills real estate agent, Beverly Hills Realtor
Posted on: Beverly Hills Real Estate-Beverly Hills Homes For Sale
First Posted: 01/30/2012 5:17 pm Updated: 01/30/2012 7:27 pm