The Sierra Towers of Sunset Strip - West Hollywood (90069)

The Sierra Towers of West Hollywood, designed by architect Jack A. Charney, is located at 9255 Doheny Road at the base of the Hollywood Hills just off the famous Sunset Strip. The Sierra Towers is often considered the most luxurious and exclusive residential condo in all of Los Angeles. The building offers panoramic views of all of Los Angeles from the mountains to downtown LA to the Pacific Ocean and boasts of amenities and services including 24-hour valet and concierge services, pool, spa, fitness center, ballroom, catering kitchen, and more.

The 32-story building was originally built in 1964 and has 146 units. Each floor has around 6 units, but some units have been combined over the years. The units typically have one to three bedrooms and floor to ceiling windows. Some celebrities who have owned units in the building Elton John, Lindsay Lohan, Matthew Perry, Cher, Courtney Cox, and Brody Jenner. 

The building is unique in that it is 15 stories taller than any other building in a two-mile radius, giving it unobstructed views. With current zoning and building restrictions, there will unlikely be another similar tower built in the surrounding area.

There are currently 6 properties for sale in the building ranging from $1.3 to $3.75 million. There is one property currently being offered for lease at $12,500 per month. There is also a small separate staff quarters in the building listed at $395,000. 

The Sierra Towers is a great place to purchase a property if you want the ultimate luxurious Hollywood lifestyle. Of course, there are also other more affordable buildings and condos in the West Hollywood/Sunset Strip area. 

Please feel free to contact me at (310) 717-1321 or JamieTian@RodeoRE.com if you are interested in leasing or buying in the Sierra Towers, if you have any real estate related questions, or if you would like representation in purchasing, selling, or leasing a property somewhere else in the Los Angeles area!

Click on "Search Homes For Sale (MLS Search)" tab on the green bar at the top of this page to search for properties currently for sale and for lease in the greater Los Angeles and Orange County areas (updated in real-time)!

The W Hollywood Residences - For Lease & For Sale! (90028)

The W Hollywood Residences represents the epitome of luxury condominiums and is located in the world famous intersection of Hollywood and Vine. With spectacular views of the city and the Hollywood Hills including the iconic Hollywood sign, the W Residences offers full service condo living in the heart of Hollywood. The 143-unit condo offers its residents an impressive rooftop park, pool, outdoor kitchen and dining area, fitness area, dog park, as well as 24-hour valet parking and concierge services.

The W Hollywood is the first and largest LEED-compliant property in Los Angeles and combines sustainability with contemporary design and technology to offer the ultimate luxury lifestyle. The property includes the W Hotel, the W Residences, the bliss spa, and some of L.A.'s most popular nightclubs and restaurants.

Currently there are 5 units in the building available for lease ranging from $4,995 to $8,500 per month. There are 12 units in the building for sale ranging from $569,000 to $4,100,000. There Each unit has 1-2 bedrooms and 2-3 bathrooms and ranges from around 1200 to 3200 square feet. There is also an amazing 25,000 sq ft penthouse suite in the building being offered for $45,000,000. This "estate in the sky" is one of the most luxurious and significant penthouses being offered for sale in the entire United States.

Please feel free to contact me at (310) 717-1321 or JamieTian@RodeoRE.com if you are interested in purchasing or leasing a property in the W Hollywood Residences or if you would like help purchasing/leasing/selling a home anywhere in the greater Los Angeles area.

I would be happy to answer any questions you might have, provide an updated list of available units in the building, or provide a free professional estimate of your property value at no cost or obligation!

Click on the "Search Homes For Sale" tab above to search the MLS for properties currently on the market (updated in real time). 

Ronald Reagan's House Sells Above Asking at $5.211 Million!

Ronald and Nancy Reagan's home in the Pacific Palisades hit the market in December for the first time since 1988 and just sold this week above asking price at $5.211 million! It was originally listed at $4.999 million. The home was origianlly built as a "General Electric Showcase house in 1956 and was designed with energy saving heating and lighting technology.

Click here to see a virtual tour of the home!

Properties For Sale & For Lease that I Previewed in the Hollywood Hills! (90046)

Yesterday, I had the chance to preview two great properties in the Hollywood Hills! Both are being offered for sale or for lease! 

Here is a photo I snapped on the drive up. The unobstructed views from downtown Los Angeles to the Pacific Ocean is one of the many reasons why people choose to purchase homes in the Hollywood Hills!


The first property was completely renovated in 2004 and is minutes from the Sunset Strip and the studios. It perched over the 52 acre "Woodrow Wilson" preserve and offers breathtaking views of the preserve from the backyard. The house has 4 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, and a detached guest house and is being offered for sale or for lease. Other amenities and upgrades include beamed 22-foot ceilings, a steam shower, a gourmet eat-in kitchen, a river-rock fireplace, a media/den, spa baths, a lagoon-style pool with a spa and fire pit in the backyard, a multi-level deck, an outdoor gym, and a 2 car garage.  My favorite part of the house was the huge closet with floor and ceiling shelves and racks! There is a ladder in there you can use to access the upper shelves and racks.

The view of the house from the street.

The lagoon-style pool.

The amazing view of the Woodrow Wilson preserve!


The second property is a gorgeous Spanish style house in the Laurel Canyon neighborhood of the Hollywood Hills. It has 3 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, and is also being offered for sale or for lease! It is located on the end of a very private street and offers a large open kitchen, a breakfast bar, large open living and dining room with a fireplace, and french doors that lead out to balcony overlooking the backyard.

The view of the house from the street.

View of the backyard form the balcony.


Lastly, here is fun photo of the Hollywood Hills I snapped from the Beverly Center!


Please contact me directly at (310) 717-1321 or JamieTian@RodeoRE.com if you are interested in finding out more information or want to view any of these properties. I would be happy to answer any questions you might have or provide you with a list of available homes for sale or for lease at no cost!

Click the "Search Homes For Sale (MLS Search)" tab on the green bar at the top to search homes currently available for sale in the greater Los Angeles and Orange County areas! (updated in real time)!

The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. Live!

The Ritz-Carlton Residences at L.A. Live is located in downtown Los Angeles in a world famous sports and entertainment district at 900 W. Olympic Blvd. Within walking distance are popular bars, clubs, restaurants, movie theaters, museums, and sports events at the Staples Center. It is also within a few miles of USC.

There are 224 units spanning from the 27th floor to the 52nd floor. Each unit features floor to ceiling glass windows with amazing views of all of Los Angeles. Residents enjoy amenities such as the rooftop swimming pool and spa, valet parking, 24 hour concierge/doorman, a Wolfgang Puck restaurant, and the spa and fitness centers. The units range in size from approximately 950 square feet to 5400 square feet, and the interior of the units are contemporary in design and include designer kitchen appliances and fixtures.

The building was designed by Gensler, an international architecture and design firm, and is LEED-certified (silver) by the U.S. Green Building Council. It is one of the most sustainable buildings in downtown L.A!

There are currently 19 units in the building available for lease, ranging from $4750 to $11,800 per month. There are also 13 units available for sale, ranging from $1,845,000 to $9.3 million. Each unit has 1 to 3 bedrooms and 1.5 to 3.5 bathrooms.

Please feel free to contact me at (310) 717-1321 or JamieTian@RodeoRE.com if you are interested in purchasing or leasing a unit in the Ritz Carlton Residences, or if you would like help purchasing, selling, or leasinga property in the greater Los Angeles area! I would be happy to set up an appointment for you to view the units available.

If you are interested in selling your property, I would be happy to provide a professional estimate of your home value with no obligation or cost!

Elleven South Lofts of Downtown LA - 1st Green Residential Building in Downtown

The Elleven South Lofts, built in 2006, is the first green residential building constructed in Downtown Los Angeles. It is located in the South Park neighborhood of downtown on 11th Street and Grand Avenue.

There are a wide range of units, including studios and penthouse suites. Each luxurious unit has bamboo floors, stainless steel appliances, parking, a laundry room, and spectacular views of Downtown LA.

The building has 13 stories and each unit is styled as a "soft loft" with a bedroom area. This means that it is not a traditional loft in the sense that it does not have concrete floors and exposed pipes/duct work. It is more like a condo, but still offers wide and open living spaces with huge windows like a loft.

This building is an entirely new construction and is LEED-certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. It includes many innovative green building technologies such as:

• Materials for the wood floors from sustainable forests
• Low flow showers and toilets
• Natural fibers for carpets
• Large windows to let in natural light to save on lighting costs
• Treated glass and sunshades to save on cooling costs
• Transporting materials to construction site more efficiency to save on fuel costs
• Recycled materials
• Low-emitting paints

There are currently 6 units for sale in the Elleven South Lofts, starting from $485,000 for the smaller 1 bedroom/1 bathroom units  Each unit has 1-2 bedrooms and 1-3 bathrooms. The penthouse suites are 2 bedrooms/3bathrooms and are usually listed around $2.5 million

Please feel free to contact me at (310) 717-1321 or JamieTian@RodeoRE.com if you are interested in purchasing a property in the Elleven South Lofts, or another property in the Los Angeles area. I would be happy to provide you with an updated list of available properties, schedule a viewing, or answer any real estate related questions.

If you are interested in selling your unit at the Elleven South Lofts or another Los Angeles condominium, I would be happy to provide a free professional estimate of your property value.

Homes For Sale In West Hollywood/Hollywood Hills (2/5/13)

I wanted to share a couple of properties that I had the chance to preview in West Hollywood and the Hollywood Hills.

The first property is the house from the movie, "A Nightmare On Elm Street". The property is located in the historic Spaulding Square and has been completely renovated by the owner with a "traditional/modernist fusion". This unique turnkey property has 3 bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, a pool, as well as a full "guest house" in the backyard with its own kitchen and bathroom.




The second property is a charming duplex, also located in the Spaulding Square neighborhood of Hollywood. This property has multiple separate units that can potentially be leased out for income. 


The third home is located in the Laurel Canyon neighborhood and Wonderland School District. The property has a million dollar view, but unfortunately it was hazy today and you could not see much. On a clear day, you can see all of downtown Los Angeles. This property has not been on the market for 45 years and definitely needs some updating, but could be a great opportunity to build an amazing contemporary Hollywood Hills home with unobstructed city views!


The last property was also located in the Wonderland School District of the Hollywood Hills and has just been renovated in 2013. The home has 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, a replaced roof, updated copper plumbing, new hardwood floors, updated modern kitchen, and an office/den addition on the first level. 


For more information about any of these properties, please feel free to contact me anytime at (310) 717-1321 or JamieTian@RodeoRE.com. I would be happy to answer any real estate related questions you might have, provide you with a list of available properties in your area, or set up an appointment for you to see a property at no cost to you!

Jamie Tian
Rodeo Realty
(310) 717-1321
JamieTian@RodeoRE.com
DRE #01920120
www.JamieTian.com

Pros and Cons of a Homeowner's Association (HOA)

A homeowners association, commonly referred to as a HOA, is a group organized to create and enforce rules for a neighborhood or a condominium building/complex. Its goal is generally to maintain an overall conformity to protect the property values of the community. The HOA must abide by the CC&Rs (Covenants, Conditions, & Restrictions) that were originally set up for governing the community. Monthly or annual dues are generally collected and used to maintain and upkeep common areas and amenities. Each HOA has its own rules and regulations and provides different services. It is important to find out about all the rules and policies of the HOA before purchasing a property.

There are many pros and cons to living in a community with a HOA:

Pros:

Maintenance - HOA's maintain and pay for common areas and amenities provided by the community or building. This often includes swimming pools, parks, tennis courts, gym, etc.

Services: - HOA's often also provide services to its building or neighborhood. This can include neighborhood/building security, street sweeping, valet parking, etc.

Property Value - HOA's regulate certain factors to keep conformity and help keep the neighborhood/building attractive. These rules regarding paint colors, renovation restrictions, and rules about signs around the neighborhood help to maintain property values.

Mediation - HOA's can help to resolve disputes between neighbors quickly so that no hard feelings are left over.

Cons:

Intrusive - Too many rules can be annoying and you may want to paint your house a certain color that's not allowed. Sometimes the rules may seem unreasonable.

Expensive - HOA monthly fees can be expensive and are another bill to be added to the list of expenses. HOA fees are usually higher in full service condominiums with valet parking, 24-hour security, concierge, swimming pools, and exercise facilities.

Fines - You may face fines if you break the rules!

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about HOAs, or would like help buying, selling, or leasing a property! Check out my website at www.JamieTian.com and click on the "Search Homes For Sale (MLS Search)" tab at the top to search for homes currently available for sale and for lease in the great Los Angeles and Orange County areas!

"The Green Idea House" in Hermosa Beach

"The Green Idea House" is a house in Hermosa Beach that was retrofitted to be net zero energy as well as carbon neutral. This means that the house produces enough energy on site to meet its low energy demands, and also that the total amount of carbon released due to the project was completely offset or sequestered.

"The Green Idea House" is the first of its kind in Southern California and has been named the cornerstone case study for Southern California Edison's Net Zero Energy Initiative. The home also meets LEED Platinum standards, is Green Point Rated, and won the 2012 Green Leadership Award.

The goal of the project was to publicly demonstrate the process of retrofitting one's home to be energy efficient and sustainable, and to show that it is a feasible and affordable project. The entire venture was able to stay within their total construction budget of $400,000.

The project prevented over 97% of the construction and demolition waste from going to the landfill. It also took into consideration important environmental factorås such as material use, water use, and toxicity.

To see photos or for more information, check out www.greenideahouse.com!

Best Macarons in Los Angeles!

Top: Madagascar Vanilla, Sicilian Pistachio, Chocolate/Strawberry (Valentine's Day Special)
Bottom: Sweet Wedding Almond, Earl Grey Tea, Salted Caramel (my favorite!)

I just wanted to share with everyone my favorite macaron shop in Los Angeles! It called 'lette macarons and is located in Beverly Hills at 9466 Charleville Boulevard, Beverly Hills, CA 90212 (near Wilshire Blvd and Beverly Dr). You can stop by the store or order them online and pick up your order in the store.

Their macarons are a little pricey but worth every penny! I have not found a flavor that I do not like! My favorite flavor is definitely the salted caramel. The giftboxes make great presents for Valentine's Day! Right now for V-Day, they have a special Chocolate/Strawberry flavor that is delicious!

Check out their website: http://www.lettemacarons.com/