Ridiculous Drool Worthy Modern Compound Above The Sunset Strip

Rarely does a property of this caliber come on the market, especially in this location. While one can certainly find a home with views, or a pool, and maybe some flat land; it is almost unheard of to have all three on over an acre lot just north of the world famous Sunset Strip. Designed by well known architect Hagy Belzberg behind the gates is this three structure compound. Described by the listing agent as, "To journey beyond the grand gates and soaring pepper tree hedge of this Hagy Belzberg-designed compound estate is to enter a secluded, resort-like sanctuary where three distinct structures – a Main Residence, Wellness Center and Guest House – summon you forward, beckoning you to journey through their space so they can unveil one surprise after another." Sounds inviting doesn't it? As you can imagine in a property of this level, all finishes are of the highest quality throughout. I have kept an eye on this property for the last couple years while driving up Sunset Plaza Dr, and it turned out better then I could have imagined. If you like modern architecture and can play at this level, then this may be the drop dead stunning house you have been waiting for! Remember, once this one goes, it will be almost impossible to duplicate.

1232 Sunset Plaza Dr, Hollywood Hills

$28,800,000 8 Bed 9 Bath 13,000 Sq. Ft/Other 47,916 Lot Sq. Ft

Listing & Photos courtesy of The Agency

If you would like to see this property in person, please feel free to contact us anytime @ 310.600.9172 or email smilayproperties@gmail.com. We would be happy to assist!

Moving On Up...

After 8 great years with the agency I started with in Real Estate, West Los Angeles Realty, I made the difficult decision of moving to a larger agency last week. It was a tough call, as the broker of my former company is more like family than a boss. On top of that, she taught me almost everything I know about being a real estate agent. I have not one bad thing to say about her or the company. I just felt it was time to move to a bigger office for a variety of reasons. After meeting with a couple of companies I liked from afar, I settled on Nourmand & Associates in the Beverly Hills office, and made the move. Nourmand is a great company, much like the situation I had before where the Broker/President is readily available for input, but on a larger scale. It has been around for 37 years, has 3 offices (Beverly Hills, Brentwood, and Hollywood), and is approaching 150 agents. There are some HUGE producers in the office, most notably Myra Nourmand, who currently has in the neighborhood of $60M plus in active listings! Don't know if I'll get to that level, but I am certainly going to give it my all both for myself and my new company. In the end this move should benefit my clients as much as myself, mostly in terms of marketing their properties for sale, as Nourmand has a plethora of resources to assist with "Marketing your property to the world." In the end as a seller that is what you need, to cast the widest net and create the most buzz to ensure that every potential buyer sees your property and it sells for the highest possible price. The world is getting smaller, and now I have the backing and resources available to put your property in front of any and everyone in any corner of the globe.

If you ever want to come down to Beverly Hills and see the new office and find out how the new company and I can be of assistance in helping you buy or sell in this highly competitve market, please feel free to contact us anytime 310.600.9172 or email smilayproperties@gmail.com. I would be happy to assist!

LARGE UPGRADED LOFT LIKE 1 BED + OFFICE/BED W/ PRIVATE PARK LIKE BACKYARD & ALL UTILITIES INCLUDED FOR LEASE

Very hip updated apartment lying in highly coveted Beachwood Canyon is available July 1st for a new lucky Tenant. This particular apartment remodeled just a couple years ago, has hardwood flooring, a loft like open floor plan, fireplace, and marble kitchen with stainless steel appliances. The main feature though is an impossible to duplicate HUGE private backyard for this apartment's use only! On top of all that, ALL utilities are included in the rental price. If you like outdoor space, this one is not to be missed. Available July 1st.

2276 Beachwood Dr, Hollywood Hills

2,475/mo Unfurnished + All Utilities Included 2 Bed (2nd Bed is an office space that could be a bedroom) 1 Bath 1,200 Sq. Ft Approximately

Listing and Photos by Eric Smilay for Smilay Properties

If you would like to see this property in person, please feel free to contact us anytime 310.600.9172 or email smilayproperties@gmail.com.

Chic Mid-Century Opportunity in the Hills

I saw this home today on Caravan, and really liked it. I was actually on this street to see a different house, but saw the open sign so went in to see what it was. I was pleasantly surprised both by the price point for this location above the Sunset Strip, and the great mix of modern and mid-century finishes throughout the home. First of all, the home's base is polished concrete flooring, which I really like for aesthetics and functionality, but don't often see. The open floor plan surrounded by windows allowing natural light in the property is always a plus, and was punctuated by the cool stone fireplace in the living room. The updated Italian kitchen was clean white with stainless steel appliances and counters. It seemed as if each room had walls of glass that opened up to the outdoors. The home is very private with hillside in the backyard, and there is actually quite a bit of grass and definitely room for a pool. The IPE wood outdoor deck provided a good indoor/outdoor flow for entertaining or simply dining outdoors. The bathrooms could be upgraded a bit, but the bones, space, and location is definitely all there in this one. This is a great opportunity to own a cool mid-century modern home in an A+ location!

1424 Rising Glen, Hollywood Hills

$1,995,000 3 Bed 2.5 Bath 2,436 Sq. Ft/ow 14,843 Lot Sq. Ft

Listing & Photos courtesy of Peter Lorimer - Peter Lorimer Group Estates

If you would like to see this cool mid-century modern property, please feel free to contact us anytime @ 310.600.9172 or email smilayproperties@gmail.com.

Hip Loft Like Condo w/ Million Dollar Views For Lease

Very cool loft like NYC style Junior 1 Bedroom just steps to Runyon Canyon. In the desirable newly remodeled Hollywood Regis building is this stylish condo with explosive views of the downtown skyline. Highly upgraded unit features concrete like tile flooring throughout, open floor plan, and chefs kitchen with caeserstone counters and all stainless steel appliances. Other bonuses are the fireplace in the living room, large walk in closet, in unit European style washer/dryer combo, and good size balcony to soak up the views. Secure modern building loaded with amenities including pool, spa, and fitness center. Killer location just down the street from popular Runyon Canyon, a short stroll to grocery store, and all the action of booming Hollywood. Can be delivered fully furnished at a slightly higher cost. Available Oct 15th.

7320 Hawthorn Ave #315, Hollywood

$1,950/mo 1 Bed 1 Bath Approx. 600 Sq. Ft

Listing & Photos by Eric Smilay for Smilay Properties

If you would like to see this hip condo in an ideal location, please feel free to contact us anytime @ 310.600.9172 or email smilayproperties@gmail.com.

New Architectural Listing Oozes Style in Silver Lake

This home was built in 1936, but according to the listing underwent a complete architectural renovation in 2004, and is now stunning. From the dramatic entry, one is immediately struck by the open floor plan, high ceilings, and floor to ceiling glass windows. I think this to myself all the time that it is so simple, but yet you don't see it all that often -- open spaces, white walls, minimalist in design and materials chosen, and large windows is the formula for a beautiful house. This house appears to have all that in spades. At over 3,000 sq. ft with multiple decks featuring relaxing views of the Reservoir and a good sized yard with large pool, I am guessing that this home will certainly get a lot of attention.

2306 Kenilworth, Silver Lake

$1,679,000 4 Bed 3 Bath 3,117 Sq. Ft 5,114 Lot Sq. Ft

Listing & Photos courtesy of Andrew Morrison - Sotheby's Int'l Realty-Los Feliz

This home is also in the coveted Ivanhoe school district. If you would like to see this stylish property, please feel free to contact us anytime @ 310.600.9172 or email smilayproperties@gmail.com.

Large 1 Bed Apt Available for Lease in The Los Feliz Village

Located in a prime location in the heart of the Los Feliz Village, this large one bedroom apartment is available in a recently remodeled beautiful 4-plex building. The apartment is on the top floor with a large balcony with views of the Hollywood Hills and historic Vista Theater. The unit has a nice open floor plan with hardwood flooring throughout and plenty of character details. The large stainless steel kitchen, with eat in area, is fit for a chef and comes with an industrial style refrigerator. Other features include: in unit washer & dryer, tankless water heater, newer Hunter ceiling fans, and a multitude of windows. Last, but certainly not least, this apartment comes with it's own private one car garage, which is virtually impossible to find elsewhere. Walking distance to all the restaurants and shopping on Hillhurst and Vermont, this apartment is not to be missed. Available September 1st.

1540 1/2 Rosalia, Los Feliz

$1,725/mo 1 Bed 1 Bath Approx. 900 Sq. Ft

Listing & Photos by Eric Smilay for Smilay Properties

If you would like to see this large apartment in a great location, please feel free to contact us anytime @ 310.600.9172 or email smilayproperties@gmail.com.

My Style - Slick Hollywood Hills Mid-Century Stunner

Check out this beauty on a great street with jaw dropping views in the Hollywood Hills. Built in 1952, the wide open floor plan flows seamlessly from the living room to the kitchen and dining room (with cool retro diner style built in booth), and out to decks overlooking the city. According to the listing, "The home's open living plan allows these areas to share dynamic North-facing city, mountain, and sunset views." The modern kitchen has been updated with top of the line high end appliances. The flooring throughout the house is walnut and polished concrete. One moves from the upstairs down to the huge master suite through a stylish floating staircase. The huge loft like room opens up and can be used for multiple purposes and layouts. There are large decks, upstairs has a built in bbq, to relax and soak up the view. With 3 bedrooms in all in the hills at just over $900K, this home is not to be missed.

3545 Multiview Dr, Hollywood Hills

$929,000 3 Bed 2 Bath 1,594 Sq. Ft 5,609 Lot Sq. Ft

Listing & Pictures courtesy of Jeff Yarbrough - Keller Williams Beverly Hills

If you would like to see this stylish property on a great street, please feel free to contact us anytime @ 310.600.9172 or email smilayproperties@gmail.com.

Updated Spanish Home in the Franklin Hills

Lying in the desirable Franklin Hills neighborhood, this updated Spanish home with modern details is available for you. I really like the living room with it's soaring beamed ceilings, large windows allowing natural light to flood the property, and the charming fireplace. In addition to this area, there is another den with a kiva fireplace. The redone kitchen with eat in area features names like Viking on the high end appliances. The dining area flows out to the serene outdoor spaces with sweeping views of the city, as well as the difficult to find flat grassy yard. The outdoor area has peaceful decks and an in ground spa to relax and soak up the views. This looks like a good one in a fine location, and a nice mix between vintage charm and modern finishes for today's living.

2401 Ronda Vista Dr, Los Feliz

$1,200,000 4 Bed 1.75 Bath 2,275 Sq. Ft/Ow 4,902 Lot Sq. Ft

Listing & Photos courtesy of Carol Stewart - Sotheby's Int'l Rlty-Los Feliz

If you would like to see this great looking property, please feel free to contact us anytime @ 310.600.9172 or email smilayproperties@gmail.com.

Franklin Hills Mid-Century

Here is a great new listing in the coveted Franklin Hills neighborhood of Los Feliz. Anyone who knows me knows that I would of course paint the outside white to make it "pop," but overall the property looks really good, especially for the price in this location. The wide open living/dining room with it's soaring butterfly style wood beamed ceilings are eye catching and work well with the wide plank oak flooring. The house sits on a nice parcel with a lot of flat land, which can be difficult to find in the hills. There are plenty of deck spots to relax at and soak in the peaceful views as well. Overall at this price, this one looks like a winner and is sure to garner a lot of attention.

3727 Evans St, Los Feliz

$749,000 2 Bed 2 Bath 1,392 Sq. Ft 8,450 Lot Sq. Ft

Listing & Photos courtesy of Rose Ware & Terry Canfield Schmidt - Prudential California Realty

If you would like to see this stylish property, please feel free to contact us anytime @ 310.600.9172 or email smilayproperties@gmail.com.

SOLD! Stylish Hollywood Hills Home w/ Stunning Landscaping & Pool (Represented Buyer)

I've been a bit busy working on deals, taking care of my 9 month old son, etc and have been away from the blog for awhile, my apologies to all the readers. I will try to get back into the routine and be more "on it" in this medium.

I am pleased to come back to show a great property that I just closed escrow on yesterday for a Buyer client of mine. This particular client resides out of the US, has never seen the property (her representative here did), and I never met them. Interesting huh? I actually really appreciate the trust that they placed in me, seeing as how they are not here, and I am their eyes and ears on the ground so to speak. This is the second International client I have assisted this year, and I have enjoyed meeting and working with both immensely. I hope to do many more in the future with different Buyers and Sellers from all over the world.

This particular property is stunning. It has a great open floor plan with walls of glass all leading out to a spectacular backyard complete with landscaping/hardscaping done by an AIA award winning architect, which makes it a bit "special." The saltwater pool is extra large and the Ipe wood deck, wood gates, and grounds are all done to the 9's.

3400 Blair Dr, Hollywood Hills

$930,000 ($5,000 over asking price) 3 Bed 2 Bath 1,795 Sq. Ft/ow 6,135 Lot Sq. Ft/ow

Upon entry one is immediately struck by the modern facade, and enters past a tranquil waterfall, and into a wide open floor plan with wood flooring throughout. The living room/dining room with fireplace opens seamlessly into a light filled family room with walls of glass leading out to the deck and peaceful canyon views.

Listing Courtesy of Charmaine Degrate - Coldwell Banker BH South

Pictures by Eric Smilay for Smilay Properties

There were half a dozen offers on this property within days of it hitting the market, but we were able to beat out those others to get this great home. Even though we had to go a hair over asking price, I believe my Buyer got a deal. I think it could have even sold for more!

If you would like to find a similar home in and around this area, please feel free to contact us anytime @ 310.600.9172 or email smilayproperties@gmail.com. We would be happy to assist!

Dexter Star Lists Former Starchitect Hal Levitt's Personal Residence

I visited this property this week and was impressed. I actually showed the Outpost Estates area home to a buyer client of mine back when it last sold in 2008 for $1,750,000. They should have bought it then, but instead the star of Showtime's Dexter Michael C. Hall was the lucky purchaser of this great home. This home was the personal residence of architect to the stars, Hal Levitt, from 1964-2004 according to the listing. Mr. Levitt has done some fantastic homes, most recently and notably the home that Jennifer Anniston just sold for a whopping $35M. It was Mr. Hall that took this home to the next level though. He did some great improvements, including all new oak flooring, modernized kitchen, and redone pool. The improvements definitely show, and I don't see this one remaining on the market for long.

7039 Senalda Rd, Hollywood Hills

$1,995,000 4 Bed 5 Bath 3,525 Sq. Ft 10,308 Lot Sq. Ft

Listing & Photos by Joshua Myler & Jeff Kohl - The Agency

At over 3500 sq. ft in a prime location, this is a good value on a very cool house. If you would like to see this great home rich in architectural history, please feel free to contact us anytime @ 310.600.9172 or email smilayproperties@gmail.com.

Leases on Leases on Leases

I have done a multitude of high end lease transactions in the past couple of weeks, and am currently working on a couple of more. Apparently there are a lot of people looking to move in time for Summer and are either not yet prepared to buy, have special circumstances like a job transfer, or just want to test out a neighborhood. Check out the various houses and their wide range of locations and prices for the recent several I have just completed for both Owner and Tenant client's.

2047 E Live Oak, Los Feliz, $6,250/mo - This one was especially rewarding, as I managed the design and remodel work for my client's. Good to see that the results were successful. Leased for 2 year's. Represented both Owner and Tenant.

9354 Beverly Crest, Beverly Hills, $8,000/mo - Represented the Tenant's. Great Mid-Century Modern house with stunning views and a pool in the "Crest" streets of Beverly Hills north of Sunset. Listed by Elisabetta Conti - Nelson Shelton & Associates.

Front of the Beverly Crest property

2585 Glen Green, Hollywood Hills, $4,500/mo - Represented both the Owner and the Tenant.

2200 Curtis Ave, Redondo Beach, $3,800/mo - Represented the Owner.

If you are looking to lease out your property or lease a property in the greater Los Angeles Area, please feel free to contact us anytime at 310.600.9172 or email smilayproperties@gmail.com.

Duplex Turned Stunning Loft Like Modern Showplace

I had the pleasure of seeing this property in person this week, and not only do I like the concept, but definitely liked the execution as well. The property was a Spanish style side by side duplex that the developer converted into a stunning wide open loft like four bedroom showstopper. They used as a base my favorite wood flooring choice at the moment throughout the home, wide plank white oak floors. The attention to detail is first rate, including the front bathroom (shown below) with wallpaper pattern like design ingrained into the tiles, which to be honest I had never seen before. There is a large chef's kitchen, a multitude of skylights allowing natural light to flood the property, and an ideal open floor plan leading to a truly relaxing backyard with great landscaping. I like how they kept one of the duplex doors on one side of the front to allow for a home office as well. Lying in a prime "Beverly Grove" neighborhood by all the chic shopping and restaurants on Melrose, this one is not to be missed.

641 Kilkea Dr, Los Angeles

$1,499,000 4 Bed 3 Bath 2,312 Sq. Ft 6,552 Lot Sq. Ft

Listing & Pictures by Sally Forster Jones & Daniel M. Weiser - Coldwell Banker-BH South

If you would like to see this stylish property in a prime location, please feel free to contact us anytime @ 310.600.9172 or email eric@smilayproperties.com.

Stylish in Silver Lake for Under $770K

Check out this interesting newly listed 1921 traditional home renovated with mid-century aesthetics in the hills of Silver Lake. Just off the popular Sunset Junction area with views of downtown's skyline is this stylish hillside home. According to the listing, all the systems have been renovated and there is a fair amount of outdoor space with "room for a pool." While not large at just shy of 1500 sq. ft, this two bedroom home is well laid out with an open floor plan and modern finishes. If you have been looking for an updated home in this area, this could be the one you have been waiting for.

1429 Westerly Terrace, Silver Lake

$769,000 2 Bed 2 Bath 1,444 Sq. Ft 4,599 Lot Sq. Ft

Listing & Photos courtesy of Carrie Bryden & Howard Lorey - Nourmand & Associates

If you would like to see this great property, please feel free to contact us anytime @ 310.600.9172 or email eric@smilayproperties.com.

The Influence of a Techy Realtor

Guest Post by Parker Hill @ NewHomeSource.com

What’s important in selling a home? Is it asking price? Location? The status of your home? While all three of these are certainly contributing factors, they are by no means the most important aspect. As you may know, approximately 90% of all home sales now begin with an online search. So despite what you’ve heard about open houses and using print advertising, the most important part of selling your home begins on the internet. While some agents have yet to understand this, there are a select few who have embraced the internet and hold the tools to get your home from ‘for sale’ to ‘sold.’ These “techy” realtors are easy to identify and are the type of agent you want to work with. Here are things to look for in determining whether your agent makes the tech-friendly list.

A techy Realtor first and foremost should have a good website. This means its easy to find, easy to navigate and is an over all enjoyable experience. Keep away from Realtor’s with dated websites that lack contact information or websites that are poorly constructed. The rule here is: if you don’t find it pleasing, chances are homebuyers won’t either. And if you were to list your home with an agent who’s website gets little traffic, then say goodbye to your home’s internet exposure. Pick a Realtor with an accessible website, with well-displayed contact information and other helpful details.

On top of a good website design, your Realtor must have a good home search feature. As we mentioned earlier, giving your home plenty of internet exposure is crucial to selling your home in the modern market. If your Realtor is lacking in a home search option, you can bet that potential buyers will quickly move along and those who don’t head to the next website will have difficulty finding your home. A good web search will have either a map view, an ability to set certain search parameters, or both. Be sure your Realtor has such an option before hiring them!

Next to design and home search options, a techy Realtor could possibly have the following additions on their webpage. A frequently updated blog can be a fun and useful addition to a Realtor’s marketing arsenal. Likewise, a Realtor that encourages texting, video chats, or using smartphones apps is also helpful, although by no means essential. The two most important aspects are the design of the website and the home search. With these, you can bet you have a class act of a Realtor. The rest is icing on top. To work with the type of Realtor who will give your home the kind of online exposure it deserves, be sure to contact Eric Smilay, today!

Modern Meets Traditional With Land & A View In Style in Studio City

I had the pleasure of seeing this property in the hills of Studio City this past week, and I must say I really really liked it. The owner, who I met with and was great, did a fantastic job on the remodeling of the property and was able to create a nice mix of traditional and modern finishes that will appeal to a wide variety of potential buyers. They took what was a nice but dated property in a great location on a large lot and turned it into a special trophy property. The base of the home is the 8' wide white oak flooring, open spaces, and disappearing walls of glass (a personal favorite of mine). The chef's kitchen has been updated with "marble counters, custom-milled high-end floor to ceiling cabinetry, farmhouse sinks, and all top of the line appliances(Thermador, La Cornufe, Bosh)." The landscaping was clearly professionally done from the water feature in the entryway to the multiple private patios off of the bedrooms to the lush backyard with pool, fire pit, and plenty of green grass to run on. This property has great valley views, and is simply a must see if you are looking for a home in this price range.

3428 Wrightview, Studio City

$2,498,000 4 Bed 4 Bath 3,654 Sq. Ft 15,340 Lot Sq. Ft

Listing & Photos courtesy of Michaela Tupta-Cadiz - Nelson Shelton & Associates

If you would like to see this stunning home, please feel free to contact us anytime @ 310.600.9172 or email eric@smilayproperties.com.

Stylin' Mid-Century View Home Under $660K

Cool redone mid-century view home in the hills above Universal Studios with head on valley views. Everything looks to be nicely updated with bamboo wood flooring, new stainless steel appliances in the kitchen, and walls of glass allowing natural light to flood the property. The living room's centerpiece is a solid concrete fireplace. The open floor plan allows the space to feel much larger then the square footage suggests. On a nice flat over 7,000sq. ft lot there is a good sized yard for outdoor activities. At a good price in a prime location, if you have been waiting for a sleek mid-century modern with views at a reasonable price, this could be it.

3922 Fredonia Dr, Hollywood Hills

$875,000 2 Bed 2 Bath 1,165 Sq. Ft 7,832 Lot Sq. Ft

Listing & Photos courtesy of Craig Terrien - Deasy Penner & Partners

If you would like to see this stylish mid-century home, please feel free to contact us anytime @ 310.600.9172 or email smilayproperties@gmail.com.

Ryan Seacrest Lists Hollywood Hills Mediterranean Mansion

One of the hardest working people in Hollywood has listed his mansion for sale high atop the Hollywood Hills. Ryan Seacrest, American Idol host and Radio DJ, among other jobs, is selling his Mediterranean estate. It is rare to have this much land in the hills, and this home comes with just shy of an acre of "Beautiful grounds, pool, championship tennis court, and much more." It also has a guest house and incredible views. This one is rich in Hollywood history, as it was previously owned by Kevin Costner, and is now ready for the next star or international mogul to reside here. Is this you?

Nichols Canyon, Hollywood Hills

$11,985,000 6 Bed 6.5 Bath 10,000 Sq. Ft 40,946 Lot Sq. Ft

Listing & Photos courtesy of Kurt Rappaport - Westside Estate Agency Inc.

It is shown to pre-qualified buyer's only, but if you are qualified and would like to see this home, please feel free to contact us anytime @ 310.600.9172 or email smilayproperties@gmail.com.

Broadway Loft Updated Pictures

This is the third time I will be leasing out this great loft at the famed Broadway Loft Building in booming Hollywood, and on a recent showing I decided to break out the new camera and take some updated pictures. The main selling point besides the actual loft itself with it's 12' ceilings, designer furnishings, and open floor plan is the building. This is the premiere full service building in Hollywood with a ton of fine amenities, including 24 hour doormen, valet parking, designer lobby, gym, and most importantly sublime rooftop pool & spa with tremendous views. Just imagine lounging with your friends on the roof high above Hollywood just in time for Summer.

1645 Vine St #605, Hollywood

$3,950/mo Fully Furnished 1 Bed 1 Bath 1,000 Sq. Ft

Pictures by Eric Smilay for Smilay Properties

If you are in town for awhile and/or wanting to test out the new Hollywood area before buying, this is a great place to do it, as it is being leased out fully furnished. If you would like to see this designer loft, please feel free to contact us anytime @ 310.600.9172 or email smilayproperties@gmail.com.